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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon's Duty Post

Captain, USS Mystic

"A Mission at Last"

Stardate: 50401.26.1430

     Sharek was in his ready room looking at the data padd concerning the upcoming mission, as he sat there he read it over one more time.

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Location: 5.2 light years inside the Romulan Empire coming from the corner of Federation and Klingon Space.

What is there: Research Facility on a Class M Moon in Orbit around a Gas Giant in a Red Dwarf system.

Dates: Built on January 11, 2281 and Disassembled on January 11, 2401

Materials Researched: (Month/Day/Year)

*Cloaking Technology (01/11/2281-12/21/2388)

*11 separate biological agents and 10 of the 11 cures for the said agents. (9 Viral, 2 Bacterial)

(9/11/2314-4/08/2400)

*Scorpion Class Attack Flyers and Scorpion Class Attack Flyers MK II (can cloak but can’t fire when cloaked) (01/01/2375-10/14/2377)

*Type Vb Disrupter (Compact model) (Mountable on vehicles instead of ships) (06/10/2377-01/09/2401

Target Date: 10/12/2377

Event in history:

On this date an unidentified group of terrorists attacked the facility at 5 am causing moderate damage overall to the facility. First there was massive damage to the Scorpion research rooms as well as the loss of the MK II prototype ending this project. Minor weapons damage to equipment in the main Cloaking research section of the facility leading to rare material loss. This lead to loss of latest test data and the eventual cancellation of this project when the data could not be duplicated in additional testing. Major damage to the Biological Agent research section resulting in the release of multiple agents. Minor to Moderate damage to the Disrupter Research section including, loss of data, tools & equipment, and the current prototype. This only lead to a minor delay since all of this data had just been sent in a progress report the head researcher’s superiors.

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     Sharek knew it was the mission needed to get the crew active again and moving in the proper direction. He copied the information into a message and added a Briefing time in the Conference room set for 2 hours from now and sent it to all Senior and Junior staff Members. Since he barely had enough to make a decent staff as it was, he needed all of them the only non staff member the message was sent to was Sterling since he was the closest thing it a Marine rep. as it was. With the message sent he relaxed knowing full well that Mysty would remind him when the conference time drew near.

 Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Mysty, Ship's A.I., USS Mystic

Lt JG Anthony Damien Tobias
Head of Shadow Ops and Bartender, USS Mystic
Dawn, Shadow Ops A.I., USS Mystic

Duty Post
"Samaratin's Reality"
Stardate:50401.28.

     Mysty had all five holograms working on making the Artificial Intelligence Equipment needed to put in the second A.I. Chamber. Her main computer self was writing the code for the programming based on her own code and the code of the target A.I. that would be in the second smaller A.I. chamber, Dawn.  Mysty had been working on the room since the engine on the Chort ship was fixed and 99% of the particles returned.

     After 3 hours of assembling the equipment the room was finally done. The main parts of the A.I. code was finished and ready for Dawns programming to be integrated. The only slow down was both Dawn and Mysty would have to circumvent Anton's security to do the transfer.

     Dawn comes onto the screens, "Mysty, I have made sure that Anton is too busy working on something else to notice what we are doing.  If I remember correctly from when we were putting you back together he showed me how he encoded the programming that way it was made harder to hack you like the Temporal Borg did before.  Just give me a micro-second," the screens in the room flash for a moment, "there. Anything else?"

     Mysty started a program running that would copy Dawns programming and integrate it into the prepared A.I. shell programming that she had written. "Dawn, you need to activate your Hologram so I can finish the final modifications. For now the Shadow Ops version of you is free to go about her duties till we are finished."

     "Okay," Dawn replied.  She flashed and flickered on for a moment and then became clear, clearly half way out of the floor. "Ummm, I think I missed. Should I try that again?"

     "No, your targeting programs are incomplete, I need to fill in the gaps. There, fixed, you will be able to appear on the correct height in the ship now. I need you to move yourself, be thinking about where you want to appear. This will be how you move around when you don't walk," Mysty said calmly.

     "Okay." Dawn flickered back on, but appeared half-way in the A.I. tower that holds her programming. "Dammit, I missed again. Am I ever gonna get this right? I liked it better when I just had to appear on a screen."

     "Don't worry dear, I am fixing your horizon targeting program now. Fixed, you can walk out now  and try that again," Mysty reassured her.

     Dawn took a few steps forward.  She still was flickering ever so often. "Is there anything you can do about this flickering, I look like a Bug zapper."

     Mysty laughed, "Sure hon, and I'll fix the blurriness too." Seconds later Dawn's image focused and stopped flickering.

     "Thank you, very much. Is there anything el..." Dawn went to lean against the wall and fell through. A moment later she appeared back in the room. "Hey, why can't I touch anything?"

     "Sorry about that, I hadn't attached your physicality programming yet. It's done, all I have to do is upload your basic holographic instincts and you'll be ready."

     Dawn with a very impatient attitude, "Well get done with it already.  I want to go bother Anton."

     Mysty uploaded the programming and connected Dawn to the Shadow Ops systems, backup computer core, and gave her basic access to the ship's computer section on archives, history, and normal information. Dawn was now ready to go and was fully capable of serving as the Ship's backup A.I. and Mysty's protégé or in this case 'Daughter'. "Dawn, you just need to delete your old A.I. program. You are connected and ready to go. So how do you feel?"

     "I feel weird.  I'm not used to this whole ~hologram~ thing.  There are also all these new weird things going on inside my head.  There is all this information zipping through my head.  It's all very confusing.  I have to go tell Anton about this.  He will be surprised.  But, why did he not do this before? Why did he not give me certain feelings?  Why did he do things when..."

     "Hon, your rambling. Take a moment and let the information process through your head. When that is finished look at the information like millions of threads in your mind. You need to isolate and move all the threads into groups, clusters, and isolated units so your mind can access everything and be less of a jumble."

     "Why does that seem easier said then done?  I'll try, but I still want to go see Anton and tell him.  Did you tell the Captain that you were doing this?  I figured that you didn't tell Anton, so it would be a surprise."

     Mysty, "You will find sorting the information easier as you do it. As for Anton and the Captain... neither of them know... in fact no one knows except you and me. The Captain should be told first though... I'll do that. Once you sort the information you'll be able to multi-task as easily as I do and can delete your former self."

     "Can I come with you when you tell the Captain?" Dawn asked very excited.

     "Let me appear first, I'll call your name when you can appear," Mysty said as she walked around Dawn's A.I. Core.

     "Okay, I'm ready whenever.  I really have nothing much more to do.  I deleted old, preschool me, and replaced with smarter, better, cuter me." Dawn was very happy with her new three dimensional look.

     Both holograms disappeared and the deed was done.

[Samaratin's Reality: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.]
 

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Lt JG Anthony Damien Tobias
Head of Shadow Ops and Bartender
Dawn, Ship's Secondary A.I., USS Mystic

Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Mysty, Ship's A.I., USS Mystic

Personal Post
"Murphy's Law"
Stardate:50401.28.0330

     Anton was seated at his desk, looking over many padds.  "Wonderful, everything is in order with the Omega Particles and the Chort vessel.  I have a message from the Captain I have to get to, but it's probably just him congratulating me on a job well done dealing with the particles.  Nothing can go wrong today..."

     Dawn pops up in front of Anton's desk, trying to not look guilty and still cute at the same time, "Hello, Anton."

     Anton was shocked by her appearance and fell out of his seat.  He jumped up from behind the desk, "What, Huh, What's going on... Oh, wait, how, why?"

     Dawn smiled and replied, "Umm, I had an upgrade."

     Anton, "How did this happen?  Who did this?"

     Mysty appeared next to Dawn, "Hiya, So how have ya been, Anton."

     Anton gave Mysty an angry scowl, "What did you do?"

     Mysty shrugged, "The ship was missing it's secondary A.I., I was lonely, and Dawn was the best choice to solve both problems."

     Dawn spoke up, "I kinda let her into my programming so that she could make me like this.  I thought you would like it.  I'm sorry."

     Anton, "It's okay, I'm just kinda shocked and surprised at the same time.  How did you get away with not telling me about it?  I figured the captain would have told me."  Anton walked over to Dawn and walked around her, examining her three dimensional figure.  "I must say, you did a very good job in transferring her to holographic form."

     Mysty, "The Captain was only told about Dawn's update 10 seconds ago. Thank you it was rather simple and didn't take that long to write most of it from scratch. I think I worked on the programming for 30 seconds. It took much longer than that to work out the bugs though. I think it took us three minutes to fix those."

     Anton smirked. "So... what exactly is she going to be doing on the ship now?  I guess I lost her as the Shadow Ops A.I., huh?"

     Mysty, "She is the ship's Secondary A.I. so she will help me so I don't spread my resources thin. She is also the primary A.I. assigned to handle Shadow operations so she will still be here." Mysty looked at Dawn, "Checkmate dear."

     Dawn looked over, "Sorry your mistaken.  Check and mate, Mysty.  You know you let me win that game."

     Mysty smiled, "Yes I did let you win, but I let Sharek win once too. I have to help your ego's somehow."

     Anton interrupted, "What the Hell are you two talking about?"

     "We were playing 3D Chess in the Computer's cyber structure as a Multitasking exercise." Mysty said as she paced around.

     Anton, "Oookkaaay."

     Dawn looked at Mysty, "Well, I think that me and Anton need some time alone." Dawn smiled and winked at Mysty.

    "Sure thing hon, I'll leave you too alone," and with that Mysty disappeared.

     Dawn took Anton's hand and led him to his seat.  She sat him down and sat on his lap. "Well now, we can enjoy ourselves."

     Anton, "Not quite."

[Murphy's Law: If Anything Can Go Wrong, It Will.]

 Lt. JG Anthony Tobias Duty Post

Head of Shadow Ops

Dawn, Ship Secondary A.I.

"The Mission Comes In"

Stardate:50401.28.1945

     A signal came in announcing that there was a new message from the captain.  Dawn was still sitting on Anton's lap after she had become her new three dimensional, ship secondary A.I. self.  "Dawn, I need to press that button so I can see the message."

     Dawn, "Ahh, come on. Why can you not worry about duty for a little and spend some time with me?"

     Anton, "I have to and you need to remember that duty comes before personal to me.  We will spend time together later, but you do realize that it is a little weird being that you are an A.I. and I am a real person."

     Dawn, "Yes, but I still feel as real as any real person," Dawn leans over and kisses him on the cheek, "correct?"

     Anton, "We will talk about this later." Anton leaned over her and pressed the button on the console.  The mission plan came up on the screen.  Anton quickly read through it.  He stood up with Dawn in his arms. "Dawn, we are back to business!" Anton gave her a kiss and set her down.  He headed for the door and tapped his combadge on the way out, "Captain, I'm on my way down now."

     Dawn spoke up, "Are you happy that we are going on a mission? Together?"

     Anton stopped and stood at the door for a moment, "Ummm, we'll talk about this later."  On his way out the door he said, "Yes, I am."

     Dawn smiled and disappeared from sight.

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lagh Grailoc's personal post
Navigations officer, KMS Midnight Warrior
Assistant Engineer Mairacc, KMS Midnight Warrior

"The Last Battle"
Starting Date 9/01/2377
Ending Date 50401.29.1450
  
    Location Bridge, with the ship nearing critical Grailoc headed toward engineering to help his father Chief Engineer Draico. Upon arriving at engineering he saw the Assistant engineer Mairacc carrying the lifeless body of his father to an escape pod. While moving over to help his father, one of the consuls exploded to his right, injuring his arm. Upon reaching his father and Mairacc, he clutched his fathers body and screamed out in anger.

     They proceeded to carry his father to the escape pod. The computer called out a warning that the engines would hit critical in one minute. They tried to force the jammed doors of the escape pod open when the ten second count down began. 
 
     They got the escape pod open and found the roof was now the floor. Upon hearing 5 from the computer Grailoc turned to Mairacc and said "Its a good day to die." As everything started to explode around them the world went black...

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Major William Sterling, Marine, USS Mystic

LtJG Anthony Tobias
Head of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

lagh(formerly) Grailoc
Formerly the Navigations Officer, KMS Midnight Warrior

Duty Post
"Incoming" and "Hostilities and Hair Triggers"
Stardate: 50401.29.1630 - 50401.29

     The Mystic had time jumped to 2377 early enough for them to have enough time to gain the items needed to complete their mission. Sharek was on the bridge when Anton walked out of the turbolift. Before either could say anything the alarm sounded.

     The Ensign at the Ops station spoke up, "Sir we are detecting a Klingon Warbird and Two Romulan Warbirds on sensors. All three ships were reported as missing and out of contact at this date in history."

     Sharek, "Change course to intercept. How much time do we have to save crewmembers and supplies from the ships?"

     Ensign, "We will have seconds only. One pass from my estimates before we have to leave the area or be destroyed."

    "All hands prepare for mass cargo transport in all transporter rooms, cargo bays, and Auxillary ship's transporters. Transporter room one will save as many Klingons and Romulans as we can." Sharek said while moving to a turbolift. "Anton, get whoever you need and meet me in transporter room 1. I want you to stop the Klingons and Romulans from killing each other."

    "Right away, Sir." Anton contacted Shadows Ops Officers Ecks and Sever and told them to get the rest of Shadow Ops and Marine Alpha Team and report to transporter room one.  Anton knew that something major was going to happen. He was going to be prepared for anything. Anton got to Transporter Room One with Tekon.  He stood there with the Captain waiting for the reinforcements.  He had his Type 3 Mark III phaser rifle ready to capture whatever materialized. Shadow Ops came rushing down the hall with phasers ready.  "Ecks, Sever, we ready?"

     Ecks spoke up, "Yes, Sir, we are prepared for the hostile arrivals."

     Sterling arrived with his team all holding Type 3 Mark III phaser rifles. The Captain was the only person with a  normal phaser rifle. Everyone was in position as the Mystic neared the ships.

     Tekon, "Everyone place your rifles on their lowest stun setting. These are possible crew members not hostiles."

 
     The Mystic arrived at the battle and started it's run. As much cargo and supplies as the transporters could transfer was being beamed aboard as well as three Romulans and three Klingons, one dead, beamed to Transporter room one.

     As the transporter finished materializing the Romulans were on one side and the Klingons were on the other. One of the Klingons was carrying the dead Klingon, the other had a D'K'Tagh(Knife) pulled. All the Starfleet Officers in the room had their weapons pulled and aimed.

     Mairacc saw the Romulans next to him, he lunged out at him burying his blade in the Romulan's heart hilt deep. Grailoc yelled out to Mairacc "What the Hell are we doing here!"

     Anton fired his rifle at Mairacc, knocking him out.  Shadow Ops moved in closer and circled behind the survivors.  Anton yelled out, "Don't move any of you!"  The Shadow Ops team was ready to fire on anyone that didn't comply with the order.

     Sharek moved forward, "Welcome, I am Captain Sharek Tekon of the Ambassador X Class Timeship USS Mystic. First of all let me thank you for becoming our newest recruits, if you don't like the thought, you can be beamed into space. We are from the 25th century and my time has seen the coming of the Romulan Vulcan reunification so I will not tolerate hostilities of ANY kind. My time period has also seen peace between all the Federations neighbors, even the Klingons and Romulans are friends in my time. So take your time and think over joining this ship and it's crew on their mission, I have all day."

     "Yes," Anton spoke up with a smart ass attitude, "we can hold these weapons here all day."

     Grailoc said "I will try to tolerate this scum though it will be hard, they killed my father."

     Sharek looked at the Klingon, "Understandable, but we have saved you, not from death but from disappearing. Your ships were reported as missing no one ever reported any battle of any kind. Your Empires considered you missing, not killed in battle. I am only asking you understand your situation and realize we have given you a second chance at life and honorable death."

       Grailoc responded in a harsh serious tone, "I understand the situation I just ask for your consideration in my actions towards the Romulans." Now in a calmer tone, "I am willing to accept your offer under the circumstances." "Though I must ask if you will allow me to perform my fathers last rights?"

     "Certainly, I will assign a security detail to you and they will then take you to your quarters," Sharek said as he motioned for a Marine to get a security team.

     As Sharek looked at the Romulans the Highest ranking Romulan started whispering with the other. A few seconds later they looked at the Captain. The leader spoke, "We agree to your terms and give our condolences to the Klingon about his father." Grailoc just growled at the Romulan.

     A few moments later a security detail arrived just as the Marines were finishing the removal of the survivors weapons.

     Shadow Ops lowered their weapons as Anton faced the captain and said, "Well, Sir, it looks like we're done here.  We're heading back to the recreation deck to finish the Mystic Poker Championship Five. Good Afternoon, Captain."  Anton sent Shadow Ops out of the room and back to the game and attempted to get to the conference room again without interruptions.

     After the survivors left the room with the security detail the marines exited on their way back to the Poker Championship as well. Sterling and Tekon exited the Transporter room and headed to the conference room... again.

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Lt. JG Jessica Daniels

Assistant CO of Security and Tactical, USS Mystic

Lt. Commander Ael Tr’Radiak

Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

“Ready to Roll”

SD: 50401.30.2218

<Begin log>

Ael was reading over the PADD, and its contents really bothered her.

Event in history:

On this date an unidentified group of terrorists attacked the facility at 5 am causing moderate damage overall to the facility. First there was massive damage to the Scorpion research rooms as well as the loss of the MK II prototype ending this project. Minor weapons damage to equipment in the main Cloaking research section of the facility leading to rare material loss. This lead to loss of latest test data and the eventual cancellation of this project when the data could not be  duplicated in additional testing. Major damage to the Biological Agent research section resulting in the release of  multiple agents. Minor to Moderate damage to the Disrupter Research section including, loss of data, tools & equipment, and the current prototype. This only lead to a minor delay since all of this data had just sent in a progress report the head researcher’s superiors.

Especially that bit about a biological agent research program. The thought of what they could encounter, frightened her, somewhat. Actually a great deal. And not just at the thought of her unborn children being affected.

She straightened her shoulders. She would be prepared, and would have sickbay ready for anything. She made her way to the conference room, and took her seat.

At that same moment Renee Daniels was also reading over her PADD.

*Cloaking Technology (01/11/2281-12/21/2388)

*11 separate biological agents and 10 of the 11 cures for the said agents. (9 Viral, 2 Bacterial) (9/11/2314-4/08/2400)

*Scorpion Class Attack Flyers and Scorpion Class Attack Flyers MK II (can cloak but can’t fire when cloaked) (01/01/2375-10/14/2377)

*Type Vb Disrupter (Compact model) (Mountable on vehicles instead of ships) (06/10/2377-01/09/2401

This sounded very interesting to her, like a proper challenge, finally. She smiled slightly as she made her way to the conference.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Major William Sterling, Marine, USS Mystic

Lt Commander Ael Tr'Radiak
Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic
LtJG Jessica Daniels, ASTO, USS Mystic

LtJG Anthony Tobias
Heads of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

Duty Post, “Mission Briefing"
Stardate:50401.31.2045

     Everyone had arrived at the briefing who was suppose to be there but many stayed silent. Zorran was there but only to listen since she had discussed the mission before hand with Tekon. As everyone got seated Tekon passed the Mission Objectives around.

Sharek went over the objective as the new information was read on padds in front of them and appeared as follows...

Objective One
- Build fake Scorpion Attack Flyer
- Gain a Romulan Cargo Vessel to get fake Flyer on the base
- Gain a Romulan Transport Craft for use in terrorist attack

Objective Two
- Shadow Ops Team: Dress in black stealth suits, use personal cloaking devices, use a Romulan Crewman dressed as an Officer to pilot the cargo shuttle.
- Marines: Dress in basic black clothing, masks, and personal shielding systems then lead a terrorist attack on the research facility.
- Marines push into base heading for Cloaking Research rooms

Objective Three
- Shadow Ops Team: obtain Scorpion Attack Flyer MK II prototype and make it look destroyed
- Shadow Ops Team: Take all parts, research padds, computer data, and equipment
- Marines: Steal all rare materials used in cloaking devices as well as latest research data dealing with a device that could detect cloaks similar to that used on the Mystic

Objective Four
- Shadow Ops Team: Steal type Vb Disrupter (experimental), all current research data, and take all tools and equipment
- Marines: Continue assault while slowly backing out of the facility via a different route than how you come in.
- Shadow Ops Team: detonate explosives in Disrupter lab to erase evidence of taking tools and equipment and detonate small scale Trilithium explosives in the Scorpion Research rooms before leaving the facility.

Sidebar:
- Only after Main terrorist attack disrupts sensor network when blasting a hole in the side of the facility to gain access will the Mystic be standing by phase cloaked to transport up those that are severely injured during the mission or trapped in a location without escape. - Cargo transporters will be standing by to transport Scorpion MK II, all equipment, and materials so use Isolinear Tag attachments on the Mark II rifles to help the Transporters lock on to all items.
- Do not let anyone see your face, or be left alive if they determine your race. Do not use real names or any Federation frequencies for communication. - Keep radio silence at all times unless absolutely necessary.
- Exit the Base using the Romulan shuttles stolen for the mission if possible. If impossible request transport; do not risk your life for the shuttles.
- Keep to the Historical Report and Data Collected and do not violate the Temporal Prime Directive

     After everyone had time to read the objectives while listening to him he finally addressed them, "So this is the plan... any questions?"
    
     Ael asked. "Where exactly do you want me to be?"

     Sharek, "There will be a moderate chance of casualties, so I will need you on standby."

     Anton, "Captain, as long as my team gets the items mentioned, keeps to minimum casualties, and low profile; is it acceptable to let me create the plan of execution for Shadow Ops?"

     Sharek, "Yes, Just remember that most of the guards will be concentrating on the Marines. There will be guards stationed on your side too, but if you can move past them without harming them do so. We can't let the Romulans know there is a second team on the base. Just keep to history, if you want you can download a list of the names of survivors."

     Anton, "Good, Sir.  Sterling, I will need to discuss the mission plans with you before we arrive at the meeting place with the Romulan vessels."

     Sterling, "Sure Anton. Sir, How many men can I use when we strike the base?"

     Sharek, "The Personnel vessel can carry 20 men so use as man as needed but stay to the guidelines."

     Renee spoke up. "What exactly will my role in this be?"

     Sharek, "There is a rumor of Omega particles being worked on at a lower level. You and several others will beam as far into the interior as you can and retrieve any particles.  You can use any equipment needed especially the Personal Cloaking Devices and the Forced Access Devices. You will need to be ready 5 minutes after the Marines start the attack."

     Renee "I do my best work under those types of circumstances. Consider it done sir."

     Sharek, "Thank you, unless there is anything else, I will need Security to be ready to steal the two Romulan vessels. They will be leaving a Romulan trading Starbase we will be near shortly. The vessels will be headed for a vessel one light year away. We should be able to beam you onto both vessels and take them from the occupants."

     Renee, "I have just the personnel to do this." She was already thinking of which personnel she would take.

     Sharek, "Good, This is the first real mission by this ship for allot of crewmembers so lets get to work. Dismissed."

     Sterling, Anton, and Zorran left immediately along with the Chorts and Brants who attended in silence.

     Renee got up, saluted, and left. Ael looked over at Sharek. "Well?"

     Sharek, "I just hope nothing goes wrong."

     Ael, "I agree."

     Sharek and Ael left the room together as the Ship came alive with activity.

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias

Head of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic NX-T

Dawn, Secondary Ship A.I.

Cpt./Col. Sharek Tekon

Commanding Officer, USS Mystic NX-T

Major William Sterling

Marine Alpha Team Leader, USS Mystic NX-T

Duty Post

"Howe's Law"

Stardate:50401.05.0025

     Anton sat in his office and hailed Sterling, "Major Sterling, Where would you like to go over mission plans?"

     Sterling, "I'll meet you at your office in 10 seconds. Sterling out." Sterling walked down the hall and rang the door chime.

     Anton got up from his desk and walked to the door.  As it opened he announced, "Sterling, we're going down to Shadow Ops to plan.  I have more resources down there for this mission.  Dawn, give Major Sterling temporary authorization for Shadow Ops.  Authorization Code Alpha-1-5-7-9-Beta-24-32-Tango-6."

     Dawn popped up in front of Anton, "Okay, sexy.  Whatever you want."

     Anton, "Please excuse us, we have a mission to plan for."

     Dawn crossed her arms in front of her, "Fine," and disappeared from sight.

     The doors to Shadow Ops open, "After you, Major Sterling."

     Sterling gave Anton a look as he passed thru the doorway and said, "Something I should know about you and Dawn?"

     Anton followed Sterling in, "Nothing, don't worry about it."  Anton went to his desk and brought up the mission details and a three dimensional floor plan of the Romulan Research Facility.  "So Mister Sterling, what do you have in mind for attack plans.  It needs to appear that no one else is in the facility besides your team.  My team has to remain hidden and all of their manpower must be diverted to help in defending the facility from your attack."

     "First off call me Bill, my father was Mr. Sterling. Now as for the attack, we are going to attack on the far side of the facility, here." Sterling pointed on the ground floor in a corner very close to the cloaking research labs. This area was away from both areas shadow ops needed to go as well as the docking area. "Once we blast the wall we will split up and start blowing up doors with grenades as if we don't know what we are looking for. Our troops will be using a mixture of heavy stun up to low kill  at Disruption 3 to add the appearance of being unorganized. Besides we want it to look like we will torture the stunned victoms for information later. This should raise all the alarms and attention needed for you to proceed." Sterling stepped back and let Anton go.

     Anton, "We will be using the Romulan cargo vessel to get into the docking bay.  From there, we are going to send out our look alike romulan officer to motivate the guards to go help after you start your attack.  From there Shadow Ops will split into two teams; one will move the Scorpions and the other will get the necessary plans and equipment.  I will only be able to run two teams of six, due to lack of crew on this god forsaken ship.  Team two will go down and get the information from the central computer and also the get the disrupter technology that is known to be there.  We will be using the tags to get the major equipment.  I'm going to be heading Team One while Agent Ecks and Agent Sever will head Team Two."
 

     Anton, "At 0455, we will land in their docking bay.  Five minutes later, 0500, you will start your assault.  0502, the guards will be called.  0505, our disguised man will get the remaining guards to go and defend.  0506-0528, Team Two will be moving the Decoy Scorpion into place and taking the Real Scorpion back to the cargo vessel.  Team Two will move past Team One and go to the Central Computer and Disrupter Research Area.  I will be accessing the computer while my other two team members will be tagging the items on our mission objectives.  At 0530, the explosives placed in the Disrupter Research area and the Scorpion Research Area will go off."

     Sterling, "At 0506 we will push into the main cloaking labs. There Alpha and Delta teams will hold their own while Beta team and our three man Epsilon team will take hold in a nearby lab where they will be interrogating guards and holding position. From 0507 until 0528 we will perform our objectives under subterfuge. Upon completion all teams will up root and push toward the scorpion facility where will throw two grenades. The first will blow a hole into the main Scorpion room. The second is a dud and is for show; this will be thrown in at 0530 when the rooms explode. Afterwards we will push into the biological agents section and make our escape by blowing a hole in another wall. This will make it look like we are retreating and on the run. Outside we will transport up to the ship after disappearing into the jungle."

     Anton, "This looks like a good plan to use.  Dawn, what is the probability of this plan working in accordance to the intelligence we have?"

     Dawn, "The chance of success is 82%, sweety."

     Anton with a stern tone, "Thank you, Dawn.  Well if that sounds good Major Sterling,  we will get to preparations then.  Do you agree?"

     "That sounds good. You know flesh is much better than holographic any day, man. If your having trouble, catch me off duty and I'll hook you up." Sterling smiled and folded his arms.

     Dawn popped up behind Sterling and all that came out of her mouth before she disappeared again was "A**hole." in a rather low tone.

     Anton, "We can discuss that kind of activity after the mission.  Go get prepared."  Anton stood to shake Sterling's hand.

     Sterling shook Anton's hand and left Shadow Ops for the Marine Deck.

     Anton sat back down and locked Shadow Ops down. "Dawn..."

[Howe's Law: Ever man has a scheme that will not work.]

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon's Duty Post
Captain, USS Mystic

"The Deception"
Stardate:50402.07.1300

     Mysty looked at Sharek, who was lying down under the fake Scorpion being built, they seemed to be putting more detail than was actually needed into it. Mysty looked at Sharek and in a sarcastic manner said, "You missed a spot."

     Sharek looked up and calmly said, "No the markings are being added last."

     "That's not what I meant!" Mysty said getting furious.

     Sharek, "I know Mysty, I was just paying you back for all the times the roles were reversed.

     "I... um... I... I NEVER." Mysty said stumbling until she got mad. Finally she disappeared.

     Sharek was finished with the body welding and the other engineers were installing the internal non working replica parts. The entire Scorpion was going to be in a sense a 25th century car bomb. The only difference was this Scorpion was being rigged to completely explode on a timer. Sharek and the engineering team continued to work on the fake scorpion. Daniels was going to be retrieving the Romulan craft needed. One was a 20 man personnel shuttle, the other was a cargo shuttle that the fake scorpion could barely fit in. Once they gained the Romulan shuttle they would be able to assemble the romulan looking hoverpadd for the scorpion, with built in micro-tractor beams, and the Romulan crate that locked at the corners allowing the quick transfer of both Scorpions.

     Sharek saw his replacement had arrived and got up, he decided to go to the mess hall since Ael was still on duty.

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Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak's Duty Post

Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

"Getting Ready"

Stardate 50402.07.1541

Ael lifted the last of the medikits out of the box. She had gone over the contents at least a dozen times. It wouldn't be good if the teams found themselves without needed equipment!

Someone cleared their throat behind her. "Ma'am." Ael laid the medikits down. "Yes, Becca?" She turned to face the Ensign.

"Would you like me to take those 'kits to the Marines?" She offered.  Ael smiled slightly. "You wanted to speak with Mike before he goes don't you?"

Becca blushed but didn't bother denying it. "Yes I would." Ael handed her the kits. "Go ahead, but be back in twenty minutes." she said.

Becca took the kits and dashed out the door. Ael watched her go with a slightly bemused smile flittering around her lips. Then she remembered what she needed to be doing, and turned back to her job.

Actually the medical teams on the Mystic were doing well enough without her standing over them, making them do their jobs. Evans and Walker were quietly delegating areas of the ship for the wandering medics that would take on patrols of the ship. Ael remembered well a story from Idan, about how a crewmember had suffered a massive coronary. If the roaming medics had been onboard he would have been found and treated. As it was, he had died.

With that reminder, she turned back to checking the duty rosters.

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Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak's Duty Post

Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

Lt Jessica Renee Daniels

"Getting Things Done"

Stardate 50402.07.1608

Renee Daniels picked up one of the equipment bags and handed it to one of her team, with instructions to stow it in one of the shuttles. The shuttle-bay resembled nothing more than an anthill someone had poked with a stick.

There were crewmembers scuttling here and yon, being very busy and important...a lot like ants, thought Renee. She shook her head at the thought. It wasn't very proper, but that's what she thought of.  She knew *what* they were supposed to do; she was a little fuzzy on the exact *how* of it all. She shrugged again and scooped up a phaser rifle. It felt familiar now in her hand. "Maybe this really is all there is to you" her subconscious stabbed her.  She slung the rifle on her back. This was pointless. There were things that needed to be done! So she set about seeing that they were done.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Major William Sterling, Marine, USS Mystic

Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak
Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic
Lt. JG Jessica Daniels, ASTO, USS Mystic

Lt. JG Anthony Tobias
Head of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

Duty Post, “Business before Pleasure"
Stardate:5040.07.1900

     Renee Daniels was impatient to get this show on the road. So she headed out to find Anton, just to see what progress he'd made. As Daniels walked in the bar she found Anton and Sterling, he was talking to Sterling when she walked up. "Almost ready?” she asked by way of greeting.

     Anton tried to convince Sterling, "I'm NOT going to go try and ~get a piece~, as you would say."

     Sterling, looked at Daniels, "HeLLOO there! Can you help me... I mean can I help you?"
 

     Renee raised a brow. "I suppose that's something we'll have to find out. I have the shuttles ready," she commented.

     Anton looked at the two, looked down, smiled, and shook his head.  He lifted his head and spoke with a serious tone, "Hey, we're here to discuss mission plans for the Security Team, not..." his voice trailed off, "nevermind.  Okay, Daniels, what exactly do you need assistance with?"

      Renee looked at them, barely hiding the impatience she felt. "When are we making our move?" she asked.

     Sterling looked Renee over from head to toe like he was undressing her before replying, "We should be there in 3 hours, and all preparations are finished except security."

     Renee gave a snarly sort of a half sneering smile. "It's about bloody time."

     Anton spoke up, "Daniels, it was efficient of you to go ahead with plans without needing assistance. Now, we need to discuss the plan for your team to recover the Omega Particles or any information on them."  Anton turned to Sterling and leaned in, "Quit with the act and act your rank."

     "I can get us there, but from there I'm open to suggestions." said Renee.

     Sterling started to sound serious as he said, "When the Marines infiltrate the compound there will be holes in their sensor network. The Mystic will transport your team as close to the elevator, if not in it, as we can. After that you will need to travel down to the Omega sublevel which could be anywhere from 100 to 200 meters below the compound."

     Anton spoke up, "You're team will be taking three empty Omega Particle containers that I created.  Once down there, if they have created Omega Particles, they will have the technology to transport them into my containers.  There is one other thing.  You will be taking one modified Omega container carrying a single Omega Particle.  This will destroy the floor.  You will use this no matter what you find.  There is a five minute timer on it and once your team starts to move out, hit the button to initiate the countdown.  You will only have five minutes to get up the elevator shaft, or you will die. So, it's all on you and your team."  "Do you understand all of that?" Anton asked as he smiled.

     "I do." Renee said firmly. "If five minutes is all we have, then five minutes is all we will take."

     Sterling looked at Daniels and replied, "Wow a powerfully straight-forward woman... I think I'm in love."

     Anton looked at Sterling with a look of shock. In a very stern tone, "Sterling!" Anton raised his hand and smacked Sterling in the back of his head.  "I hope that rude comment was worth it."

     Renee blinked and made a mental note not to annoy Anton. "Thanks...I think. But I can slap him if he needs it."
 
     Anton's attention peaked, "You can slap him if you want.  I give you ~official permission~."

     Sterling, "Yeah, Slap me baby!"

     Renee rolled her eyes. "Trust me, you don't want me to hit you."

     Anton stood at attention and spoke, "I believe we are done here.  We all need to prep our teams for the mission.  E.T.A. is 2.75 hours from now.  Daniels, you are dismissed.  Sterling, you are dismissed, but know that you are on warning for your comments."

     Renee saluted. "Then, I will see you there." She started to leave and took a parting shot at Sterling. "Try not to drool on the deckplates," and with that she stalked out of the room.

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Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak

Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

"Calm Down"

SD 50402.07.1906

Ael looked up as Becca returned, in tears. "Becca?" The young woman looked at her, and just really let loose with the sobs. Good heavens, thought Ael, as she steered the girl into her office.

"Now." after she'd handed the distraught woman a tissue. "What's the matter?"

Becca, "I'm just so afraid I won't see Mike again."

Ah that old fear was rearing its head. Ael Patted her on the shoulder. "Becca....I'm sure Mike will be fine." she said lamely.

"Well, I don't!" shouted the Ensign, and she surged to her feet. "You don't have anything to worry about." she accused, and then stalked out of the sickbay.

Ael was stunned. Of all the people she'd have expected to "fly off the handle", Becca was the last one. What was going on here?

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Major William Sterling, Marine, USS Mystic

Lt. JG Anthony Tobias
Heads of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic
Dawn, Secondary Ship A.I., USS Mystic

Duty Post, "Flirting with Protocol"
Stardate:50402.07.2130

     Anton arrived at the Captain's Office looking for him and didn't find him there. "Dawn, what is Captain Tekon's current location?"

     Dawn popped up next to Anton and put her arms around him.  "He's in the Mess Hall, sweety."

     Anton just looked at her and went, "Dawn, really, you need to quit calling me pet names.  At least when we're not in my quarters, I turned off all the sensors in there.  Most of what happens in my room, no one needs to know about."

     Dawn, "Well... that's not entirely true.  Me and Mysty can always look in.  Usually though, we don't care, especially you, baby."

     Anton, "We can talk later."  Anton headed to the Mess Hall to Find the Captain.

In the Mess hall at that same time:

     Sterling was currently in the Mess Hall sitting beside the Captain typing on a padd. He had asked the computer where the Captain was before he had even left the bar. The Captain was eating and wondering why Sterling was sitting next to him typing.

     Sharek, "You still haven't said why you are sitting here typing and not talking."

     Sterling, "You'll find out when Anton gets here. I'm just typing up the dialogue and descriptor for what he wants to talk to you about."

     Sharek, "So, why do you know what he wants to talk to me about?"

     Sterling, "I'll tell you when he arrives.

Moments later in the Mess Hall:

     Anton arrived with a padd in his hand and handed it to the captain. "Sir, this is a complete sensor log of the events that occurred in the bar not to long ago between myself, Major Sterling, and Lt. JG Jessica Renee Daniels.  There is even a full audio and video log of the events.  Will you please look over all that so that you may see the infraction in Federation policy that occurred at the strategical mission planning involving all three of us.  Might I say that this kind of behavior cannot be tolerated att all when a mission is at hand."

     Sterling looked at the Captain and handed him his padd, "Sir, this is an account of the events in detail and my defense to those events."

     Sharek played the sensor logs then read Sterling's padd. He sat back for a few moments then spoke. "You know Sterling this isn't the first time you have been brought before me for this type of
offense."

     Sterling, "Yes, Sir, I know that. The last time I was charged with grabbing a fellow Officer's ass while she was on duty. She transferred before the Mystic left to test its engines the first time and I was demoted to Lt Major. I didn't get back my rank till after the Temporal Borg attacked."

     Anton, "As you can see clearly, Major Sterling violated the sexual harassment laws in place to protect our female officers from such degrading comments and behavior.  Sterling, also as you pointed out, has a history of this kind of infraction.  This cannot happen on this ship, sir.  In that situation, Daniels came up to us to get assistance on a plan of action for the Security detail that will get the Omega Particles.  In that situation, we went from an off-duty situation, to one that would be considered on-duty do to what was asked of us.  Daniels was clearly not amused by his comments.  This kind of thing should not happen.  How would you like it if Major Sterling had made those kind of comments to your fiancé, Ael Tr'Radiak?  I just want something done about this."

     Sharek, sat up in the chair, "First off, I don't see her saying no at any point in time. However I do agree with you that some of the comments went a little too far. Sterling's behavior should have stayed serious like he started to be after you warned him. Now if Daniels wants to officially charge him I'll take action, otherwise I will log this for another less busy time."

     "Thank you, sir.  I have a mission to prepare me and my men for that starts in two hours.  In times like these your crew should take things more seriously.  Good day, sir"  With that Anton turned and walked away.  He would not forget this day and the kind of degenerates that run this ship.

     Sterling stood, "Well Sir, if that's it I am due to meet two female officers in the lounge across the hall."

     Sharek shook his head as he considered the three ring circus this ship had become. finally he was going to be able to finish his meal.

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias Duty Post

Head of Shadow Ops

"Gizmos and Gadgets Galore"

Stardate:50402.07.2400

     Anton had prepared his men.  They were in the necessary Shadow Ops gear.  "The standard S.O.C.I.S. suit is a sleek black suit.  It is made with the highest of technologies available to me.  It makes no noise when you move.  This is designed to be the top of the line infiltration gear.  It contains enough pockets to hold any and all gear you need.  It is capable of absorbing any energy fire lower than that of a kill setting.  It can also absorb most disrupter fire also.  You will be armed with a Shadow Ops modified version of the Type-3 Mark III Phaser rifle and a Type-2 Hand Phaser."

     Anton put a small tray of different devices on the platform in front of the briefing room.  He lifted up a small box with three buttons and a display panel on it. "This is what I call "The Key to the City" otherwise known as a Forced Access Device. You put it over the control panel for any door or basic security system and it opens it like most of the girls Sterling dates."

      A few small chuckles were heard. One of the two females on the team gave Anton a sneer.

     Anton showed the rest of the gear to the team.  "You all know what all these are: isolinear tags; special programmed padds with connection cables;  the E.C.G's are special made visors with night vision, infrared, distance trackers, and magnification.  All other gear you guys know what it is and how to use it.  You all know your assignments and what we need done.  Lets Ride."

     Anton and his teams went to the shuttle bay and crammed into the cargo vessel with the disguised officer.  The only two that were actually comfortable were the officer and Anton.  They left the ship and headed for the Romulan Base.

     Anton looked back to his men, "Everyone ready you're weapons and cloaking devises.  We can't be seen and we don't have shield units, so BE CAREFUL.  Everyone ready?"

     With a loud yell, "Yes, Sir!"

     Anton and his men turned on their cloaking units and disappeared from sight and sensors.  It took fifteen minutes to reach the base. Five minutes later the cargo vessel was inside the docking bay, waiting for their cue...

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Lt Commander Ael Tr'Radiak

Chief Medical Officer

Lt JG Renee Daniels

Duty Post, "Lets Be About It"

SD 50402.07.2340

Jessica Renee Daniels looked around at her assembled teams. They were impassive, though they knew they might not return from this mission.  Men and women stared back at her, a mix of ages, of races. All were in their  SWAT-black  stealth outfits a early precurser to the S.O.C.I.S. suits, She tucked her hands behind her back.  The Omega particle containers were ready for transport, though safe was a little strong for one of them....she kept her eye on that one!

Five minutes.....five lousy minutes!

She gave a little nod to Hawkwing. Her systems specialist gave her a cheeky grin. Little jerk had managed the perfect uncrackable eternity code, at an insanely early age and he was looking forward to a “proper challenge” as he put it.  She’d made sure to include photon and plasma grenades for the initial assault. And of course the personal cloaking devices.

She reached up and touched the comm device in her ear. “Comm check.” She reminded them. “Shadow one, check”.  It went around, from Peters, Shadow two, all the way to Hawkwing, Shadow Ten, who was keeping one hand on his specially modified PADD. They all carried slightly different PADDs than normal, but none was as complicated as Hawkwing’s.

“Well people. Equipment check. Rifles.” They all carried the Type 3 Mark II phaser rifles, heavier weaponry than usual. “knives”, for close combat. She went on down the list. “medikits”, followed by “E.C.G.'s.” “This is going to be the hardest thing we’ve ever done.” she said without preamble. “I chose you because you are the best. If you want to stay here, now’s the time to speak.” She paused. Not one person looked as if they wanted to leave.  “Good.” She smiled a shark’s smile. “We’ll be beamed in, and must immediately move to Omega sublevel. Once we get there, we have to collect any data we can, all omega particles, and move out. But…”she paused.  “We also are carrying an omega particle with us, which has a five minute timer on its container. If we are still there, we’ll die. And one of us, at least must make it out. Are you prepared?”

There was not a flicker of hesitation. “Yes ma’am” “Then let’s be about it”

She led them to the transporter room.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon's Duty Post
Captain, USS Mystic
Major William Sterling, Marine Team Leader, USS Mystic

"Explosions and Phaser Fights"
Stardate:50402.07.2400

     Sterling and his Marines were gearing up, they were all wearing a variety of clothing and armor products from around the known space traveling civilizations. They all had Type 3 Mark III phaser rifles disguised to look like alien rifles, and their assortment of grenades had been cosmetically modified too.  They all had a grenade belt that held 12 grenades. Two grenades were Gas, three were Photon, and the remaining 7 were Plasma. They all had D'K'Tagh knives on their belts and Romulan Disrupter Pistols on their sides. They had basic hacking and storage equipment, isolinear tags, medkits, and standard marine gear packages.  Some of them had been cosmetically altered so the teams would look like a variety of races. This all made the terrorist look more realistic. Sterling carried the explosives that would be used to blast the wholes in the bases walls.

     All team members wore parachutes since they would be bailing out of the Personnel vessel while in the air to avoid detection. The last items they made sure to have were Personal Shielding Devices, Comm earpieces for emergency sake, and respirator helmets for their Halo Jump. Once everyone was in the shuttle they did one last gear check as Sterling spoke, "We all know our orders so once we are down there we won't need to speak. Use hand signals when the enemy can't see and if you have to speak try to use a language similar to those spoken by what you look like. Any questions?" No one spoke and Sterling sat down as they left the shuttlebay right behind the Shadow Ops Teams. The Marines took a separate entry route from Shadow Ops. Their route took them on a perfect course to bail out and free fall toward the base. As they all exited the shuttle continued onward where it would eventually crash into the planet undetected.

     As they free fell into the lower atmosphere throughout the comm. system you could hear several voices yelling, "Hoo Raah!!" All were grinning behind their masks as they continued their decent. They wouldn't be using the parachutes till the last possible moment allowing the enemy no chance to prepare. The Explosives were ready and would be set to detonate upon impact with the wall when thrown.  As the Marines used the parachutes and did a hard landing onto the ground the Explosives were thrown. The wall exploded as the Marines pulled the strap that would allow their parachutes to fall off their backs. As the dust settled they began to separate into teams, remove their respirator helmets, and proceed inside.  Inside they began throwing grenades at doors to labs and storage rooms while they fired at guards and scientists alike.

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias Personal Post

Head of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

Dawn, Secondary Ship A.I., USS Mystic

Lt. Cmdr Ael Tr'Radiak Personal

Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

"Emotional A.I."

Stardate:50402.08.22.30

     Ael laid down the last PADD and sent out the last readiness report. It was a formality and probably wouldn't be read but it had to be done. She wondered idly what Dawn the new Advanced A.I. was up to.

     Dawn popped up in front of Ael. "Ael, I wanted to ask you something."  Dawn had her normal innocent look to her, even though she really wasn't.

     Ael raised a brow. "Ask away." she said.

     Dawn sat down in the chair across the desk from Ael. She had a look of frustration on her face. "I figured I'd ask you cause you and Sharek are all happy and everything...um, how do you get a guy to love you?" Dawn forced a smile even though she wasn't in the mood to smile.

     Of all possible topics that might have come up, this certainly had not been on Ael's list. "I don't think it's possible to make someone love you, Dawn."

     Dawn sighed in disappointment.  She thought for a moment, "How do I get a guy to like me then?"  Dawn was hoping that Ael could actually tell her something that might help her problem with Anton.

     Ael thought for a moment. Yeah like this is something you get asked every day!!!! "Well, try talking to him." she began. "And really listen when he talks. Ask questions. Get to know him. Make sure he knows you think he's..interesting."

     Dawn, "I know him better than anyone, and he... well, he created me so I guess he knows me too.  He knows I think he's ~interesting~, more than just interesting to be more exact.  I still don't know what to do."  Dawn lowered her head and shed a single tear. She looked up and wiped the tear from her face.

     "Oh sweetheart." Ael said. What a bloody mess! "Sometimes they just need smacked over the head. Just walk in, next time you get a chance, when he's alone., and tell him."

     "That's not easy to do.  He won't talk to me and I tried to tell him.  He keeps saying something about me just being an emotional A.I. or something.  Can you think of anything that might get him to talk to me?"  Dawn was desperate, she wanted more than anything to be with Anton.  She wanted to cuddle up to him at night and forget all the problems on the ship.

     Ael thought for a minute more. "Dawn, why don't you let me talk to him?" she offered. He probably wouldn't expect that.

     Dawn cheered up a bit. "Okay, if you think it will help."  Dawn got up from the chair and gave Ael a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  "Thank you."

     Ael smiled and hugged Dawn back. "You're welcome. We females have to stick together." she laughed.

     Dawn disappeared, hoping that Ael would do what she said she would.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic

Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak
Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

Personal Post, "Things Not Said"
Stardate:50402.08.2400

     Sharek had finished his meal finally and decided to see if Ael had taken her break yet. Since they were both pulling their usual double shifts he figured she should... especially since she was pregnant. Sharek made his way to sickbay and walked in, in her office was Ael.
    
     Ael had just sat back down after Dawn left. But when Sharek walked in, she popped right back up and threw her arms around him. "Hello darling." she smiled.

     Sharek hugged her and spun her around while saying, "Hello sweety. Have you taken a break yet?"

     Ael smiled up at him. "No, not in..."she paused and thought, "I don't remember when."

     Sharek put her down and frowned, "You know you should be taking your breaks on time... I don't want you overworking yourself."

     "There wasn't time for breaks." she reminded him. "No one else is taking breaks."

     Sharek looked her in the eye, "Yes, well no one else in sickbay is pregnant." Sharek sat down in a chair, "Anyway, your bad habits aside I wanted to ask you a serious question."

     "That was a low blow." she informed him as she sat. "Go ahead and ask."

     Sharek changed his tone to a moderate level as he spoke, "What exactly did you mean by I can only go on away missions if I have an escort?"

     "You are far too important to risk unnecessarily," Ael said calmly.

     Sharek frowned, "You still didn't answer my question... What type of escort would I need?"

     She frowned at him. "It would depend on the mission."

     Sharek shrugged, "How about the mission we are working on now. Its not too minor, but not to dangerous."

     She raised a brow. "I'd rather it be Anton or Sterling," she said finally.

     Sharek, "Ahhh, OK. So how about that break of yours?"

     "Only if you'll take it with me." she smiled.

     "Sure," Sharek said as he stood and took her hand in his, "Lead on."

     Ael wrapped her fingers around his. "I suppose I should try and eat."

     "Hopefully you won't be interrupted, I was." Sharek said as they left sickbay for the mess hall.

     "Well I'll see if I can't do something about that," Ael said with a smile. They made their way to the mess hall, and were soon sitting at a table.

     Sharek retrieved a meal from the replicator for Ael and sat it in front of her, "Any special choice for a drink?"

     "No." she shook her head. "I just hope the kids don't decide to take a dislike to my food again."

     Sharek retrieved a drink for Ael and sat down, "Hey its only been two months, they can't be disagreeing that much."

     "Sure." she sneered. "I'm just miserable for the hell of it." She sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just so bizarre."

     Sharek smiled, "It's okay sweety. Tell me what's wrong."

     "It's just....I don't know a thing about being a mom, Sharek." she said softly.

     Sharek laughed, "Well I don't know how to be a dad. I mean I was raised by a Starfleet computer who will end up their Aunt. It will be a learning experience for both of us."

     "Well, I am sure, we'll do well." she said with a smile. "Just had a moment of doubt is all."

     Sharek decided to change the subject to get Ael's mind off things, "We have one of the best crew's ever so look at it this way. With all the planning, experience, and technology we have to help on this mission what could go wrong."

     She raised a brow. "Why do I wish you hadn't said that?"

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias Duty Post

Head of Shadow Ops

"Shadow Ops Strikes"

Stardate:50402.09.0145

0458  Shadow Ops was cloaked and sitting in the cargo vessel inside the Romulan Base.  Anton waited on the explosion and watched as the disguised Ensign Triak went out to the guard to show him his forged delivery papers.  Everything was going fine when the event Anton was waiting on finally happened.

0500  The sound of a massive explosion rang through the facility.  Both the guard and Ensign Triak looked towards where it came from.  Alarms started going off and an announcement came over the PA system, "All guards report to the Sector C, Section 25.  Terrorists are attacking the facility."

0502  Ensign Triak turned to the guard, "Go help them, I'll watch this area."  The guard nodded to Triak and ran for the battle.  Triak looked at the cargo vessel and waved Anton down.  He ran up the hallway to make sure that no guards would get in the way of Team Two.

0506  Ensign Triak came back to the cargo vessel and opened the rear hatch. "Lt. Tobias, all is clear, sir."

     "Good.  Teams, move out."  Anton and his men unloaded the hover pad and broke into teams.  Team One; that consisted of Agents Tobias, Jana, and Xenon, headed for the Central Computer Core.  Team Two; that consisted of Agents Ecks, Sever, and Lexington, started moving the hover pad down the hallway towards the Scorpion Research Area. Ensign Triak got back in the cargo vessel, fired up the engines, and watched what appeared to be a hover pad move down the hall on its own.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon's Duty Post
Captain, USS Mystic

"Trouble in Paradise"
Stardate:50402.08.0300

0501
     As the Marines fortified their position just inside the base you could already see the two teams going separate directions. They began tagging supplies in closets and tying up stunned and injured guards. 

0504
     Beta and Epsilon teams (team 2) had rounded up their prisoners while holding down cover fire against guards encroaching on their position.

     Sterling had Alpha and Delta teams (team 1) start to try and push the guards back using "hostile" fire.

0506
     Teams 1 & 2 began to push their way into separate Cloaking labs. As team 2's Delta made its way into their lab they began moving prisoners while Epsilon team held down cover fire. Meanwhile Team 1 had reached the Main Cloaking Lab. There Sterling quickly tagged the containers of exotic material before moving away and setting off two grenades after he saw the transport.

     All of a sudden the guards firing at both Marine teams disappeared only to be replaced seconds later by Reman soldiers.

     Scarva, "What the Hell are Remans doing here?"

     Sterling, "I don't know but we can't let this slow us down keep shooting."

     Scarva killed a Reman, "Yeah, You want a piece of this!?!?"

0510
     Team 2's Epsilon team kept firing when the shielding unit on Brian failed, "Damn it."

     Before anyone could say anything they started to get pushed back by Reman fire. Brian began moving toward the Remans, "We can let them overtake us I'll..." He never got to finish as a blast hit a Photon Grenade setting it off. The blast immediately neutralized the equipment, shielding units, and weapons of the other team members and killed 3 nearby Remans.

0514
     Team 2's Delta team saw Epsilon team dragging their fallen comrade. "We need an isolinear tag so we can send him up," on of Epsilon team said. No sooner had the body disappeared they saw a section of wall explode.

     At the same time Sterling threw a grenade at the Remans killing two and blowing a hole into the next lab over.

0515
     Team 2 began running out of the lab trying to find a more secure room.

0522
     A member of Team 1 managed to finish downloading the Cloaking detection Data. As Team one began moving they threw grenades blowing up several things in the room including the computer containing the research data.

0526
     Team 2 was currently moving closer to the biological warfare labs than they should be. At the same time team 1 was pinned down in a dead end corridor.

     Team two saw three Remans running toward them holding photon grenades. One of the Epsilon team members ran to meet them while throwing a plasma grenade. When the explosion went off it connected with oxygen tanks in a nearby room. All the Remans were killed, the team member was on the floor severely injured and a strange gas was settling in the halls and around Team 2. The last member of Epsilon team and two members of beta team coughed a bit since their shields were now inoperable.

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias Duty Post

Head of Shadow Ops

Shadow Ops Agent Ecks

Shadow Ops Agent Sever

"Shadow Ops: Team 2"

Stardate:50402.09.0400

0506  Team 2 was moving the hover pad down the hall toward the Scorpion Research Area.  Team 1 had already turned the corner at the end of the hall.  Halfway down the hall, a Reman stopped and saw the moving hover pad.  Ecks quickly fired his phaser rifle and shot the Reman in the head.  No one was to see what Shadow Ops was doing.

0510  Team 2 arrived at the Scorpion Research Area's doors.  Sever put a F.A.D. over the door controls and deactivated the security to the area.  The large doors slowly open.  Lexington and Ecks moved the hover pad in as Sever made sure the room was clear.  Sever closed and locked the doors behind them.

     Ecks, "Sever, start tagging anything you can see that might be useful while Lexington and I switch the Scorpions."  Sever nodded and started using the isolinear tag addon to fire tags on different equipment in the room.  Ecks and Lexington took off the Romulan crate disguise and switched the Scorpion Car Bomb for the Scorpion MK-2.  They put the disguise back on.

     Sever spoke up while changing iso-clips, "Ecks, download the research data onto your padd.  Lexington, help me tag, they have crates of photon mini-torpedos."  The team worked for several minutes, getting as much as they could.

0520  Ecks, "Lets move out. I'll activate the bomb, you two open the doors and get ready to move."  Ecks armed the bomb on the fake Scorpion as Sever and Lexington opened the doors.  The three of them started moving the hover pad back down the corridor to the docking bay.  Sever closed the doors to the Scorpion Research Area behind them.

     As they moved down the hall, they could hear the battle around them.  No one had seen them on their way back.  Team 2 got back to docking bay and loaded the hover pad back on the Romulan cargo vessel.  Ensign Triak kept the engines on and closed the hatch after they loaded it on.  Now all they had to do was wait for Team 1 to return...

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias Duty Post

Head of Shadow Ops

Dawn, Ship Secondary A.I.

"Shadow Ops: Team 1"

Stardate:50402.10.1015

0506  Anton, Jana, and Xenon kept moving down the hall towards the Central Computer Core.  The building was seeming too quiet at this point.  There were no guards anywhere that they saw.  It had seemed that they all went to defend the facility against the ~terrorists~.  It took two minutes to reach the Core. 

     Anton moved his team into the room.  "Xenon, lock the doors and start downloading their computers onto the padds.  Anton and Jana hooked their padds to the Computer Core and started the downloads.  Once they had that started they moved to gathering up any padds or data chips they could find and tossed them into containers.  When a container was full, they tagged it and sent it to the mystic. 

     Xenon yelled, "Sir, the download is complete."

0518  "Get your padds and lets move, now!"  Anton was not prepared to fail.  The team grabbed their padds and quickly moved out of the room, but their where unforeseen security measures.  As they were walking out of the room, there was a bright green flash. 

     Jana, "Sir, what happened? Our Cloaking devices are down."

     Anton, "I don't know, but all we can do now is move faster than before.  Anyone you see, kill without hesitation.  No one can know we where here."  The two Agents nodded and kept moving with Anton down the hall to the Disrupter Labs.

0520  Team 1 reached the Disrupter Labs.  They had seen the now present Remans and were forced to kill them.  Anton hoped that they wouldn't have any further interruptions.  The team got in the room and locked it down.  They figured they would have company soon.

     Anton, "Okay, tag everything that looks valuable.  Jana, set up the small explosives."  Anton went and downloaded the research data on the Type Vb Disrupter that the Romulans were developing.  Two minutes went by with no problems.  The data was downloaded and the equipment tagged, The quiet wouldn't last much longer.

0522  An explosion startled the team as the door to the lab was taken out.  A team of 10 Reman soldiers started firing on the team.  Thinking quickly, Anton dived behind a over-turned lab table and started firing.  Xenon and Jana fired back on the Remans, taking cover behind some wreckage.  The team quickly took out half of the Remans.

     Jana had gotten careless and stepped too far out from behind his coverage.  A few direct hits quickly shorted out his suit.  He took a hit in the shoulder and went down behind Xenon.  Xenon yelled to Anton, "Sir, he's hit!  We don't have much time!"

     Anton yelled back, "Find a way out! I'll hold them off!"  Anton kept firing, taking out two more Reman.  Xenon scanned the room to find a way out.  She looked down and saw a nearby maintenance shaft and had a plan.

     Xenon dragged Jana over the hatch and blasted it open.  She lowered him down the ladder and into the shaft.  Dragging him, she tried to judge where to go to get back to the ship.

0525  Anton kept firing on the Reman, taking out another one. Knowing that he had to, he broke radio silence.  "Agent Ecks! You leave at 0530 no matter what!"  Ecks acknowledged.  He knew he didn't have much time to get back.

0528  Xenon heard the order and doubled her movement.  She found her way through the maintenance tunnels with no major problems, it was just taking longer than she had hoped.  Thirty seconds later, she found the hatch to the docking bay and blasted it open.  "Ecks, Sever, help get Jana in the vessel!"  Ecks and Sever pulled Xenon and Jana out of the shaft and onto the cargo vessel. They all watched the clock.

0529  Anton was still holding off the Remans.  He managed to take out the last one and dashed out of the room.  Half way down the hall the explosion started to go off and he knew he was too late.  He took cover in a small maintenance closet.  "Agent Ecks, come in. This is Tobias."

0530  The clock hit 0530 and the cargo vessel started to take off as Anton's message came in. 

     Ecks, "Sir, we just took off.  Are you okay, Sir?"

     Anton, "I'm okay.  Continue your mission and get back to the ship.  I'll find a way out."

     Ecks, "But, Sir..."

     Anton, "No buts, Agent.  That's and order."

     Ecks, "Yes, Sir.  Ecks out."

     The cargo vessel took off and left the Romulan Facility, headed back to fulfill their orders.  Xenon looked out the window back at the facility, "I hope he makes it out okay.  That man saved our lives."

     Anton somewhat fatigued from the fighting, sat down against a wall in the closet, knowing he had to find a way out...

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Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak

CMO

Lt JG Renee Daniels

SD 50402.12.0022

"Shadows Strike"

0515

Renee Daniels and her team were beamed into the turbolift, roughly 200 meters below the facility.  She didn’t have to look at her chrono to know they had very little time. The ‘lift doors opened and her team surged forward, taking Reman guards and the scientists at work by surprise.  She barely had time to notice Karina, the Caitain, moving into attack position beside her, deadly claws at the ready, before they started removing the Remans, as obstacles, and as living things.

0520

Now that they’d mowed down the resistance, with only one scientist left breathing shallowly on the floor, Hawkwing was trying his best to hack into the computer core. Judging from the muttered curses, it was really a challenge.

Renee set down the modified containment unit, the one with the single Omega particle, and the timer.

Karina and the others began the tedious process of collecting the thousands of Omega particles and placing them in the containment modules.

0525

Hawkwing snapped. He stormed over to where the scientist lay on the floor, ignored by the rest of the team. She was struggling for every breath. He picked her up, dragged her over to the console and slammed her into the chair. “Give me your access and I’ll see that you are treated” he snarled.

0530

The scientist, her name tag read Celia Branning, drew a ragged breath “Voice-activated” she rasped, “for this level”

“So get with it” he said cruelly. Normally Renee might have protested but she didn’t need Ael to tell her this one wouldn’t last another ten minutes.

Branning didn’t seem to realize her time was measured in seconds. She spoke “Override R’yaken Epsilon S’hareth” And the information they were after suddenly appeared onscreen. Hawkwing began the information retrieval, forgetting Branning behind him.

Karina was not so careless. She walked up to the scientist, and with a swipe of one paw, tidied up the last survivor. NicRian called “We are ready.” as she took up the last of the containment units.

Renee nodded as her team once again gathered together, except for herself and Hawkwing.  “Faster!” she barked at him.

0540

She finished keying in the last of the code. They now had five minutes to escape, before the terror of the Omega particle was unleashed. She grabbed Hawkwing, who was carefully undocking his PADD. “Get moving!” She tapped her badge. “Get us out of here!” And in a few moments, that seemed like an eternity, they were beamed back aboard the Mystic. She would have liked to dropped to the plates, relieved to be alive. Instead, she set about doing the rest of her job.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon's Duty Post
Captain, USS Mystic
Major Sterling, Marine Team Alpha Leader, USS Mystic

"Fleeing Hopes and Fading Dreams"
Stardate:5042.10.1915

0528
     Sterling and Team one had been pinned down for two minutes now and the Remans just kept coming. Sterling looked at his chrono and swore, "Shit, we need to get to the Scorpion lab in the next 45 seconds or they'll know something's up. Sterling yelled, "D'K'Tagh's men!" and with that all 11 men pulled their klingon blades and rushed the Remans. As they tore through them leaving fallen corpses and bloody rain they pushed through a hole in the Reman's line.

0529
     A Marine named Mike grabbed the fake Grenade from Sterling and sprinted in the direction of the Scorpion labs while pulling another of his own grenades. As he moved he dodged disrupter fire left and right, pulling summersaults and spins while moving ever forward. The Marines behind him tried to cover him but Mike was being hit all the same.

     Seconds later he threw the live grenade followed seconds later by the dud. As the First grenade blew a hole in the wall the dud sailed right threw into the scorpion lab.

0530
     Marine team 2 heard the explosion and watched debris fry by the door entrance where they were. Meanwhile all of team 1 except Sterling was thrown backwards by the blast, hot metal managed to take out Sterling's shield and then slice his flesh like butter. Poor Mike was on the ground unconscious... Maybe dead.

     As the Marines got up the fight continued, some fired their phasers while others used the D'K'Tagh's. Sterling threw an isolinear tag at Mike so he could be sent to the Mystic. The Transporters would be able to tell it was a person and send him to sickbay.

0531
     Marine Team 2 was now seeing Reman warriors and began to open fire again. As they did this they heard phaser fire in the distance... apparently Team 1 wasn't far away from them now that a large section of rooms were gone.

0532
     As Team one tried to move toward the phaser fire that could only be team 2 Sterling noticed more Remans. They had nearly 45 soldiers trying to surround them. "Men continue on and meet up with the others if you can, if not leave immediately. I'll hold off this scum.

0533
     Team 2 left their room and saw team 1 coming toward them. As they realized Sterling was missing the last man of epsilon spoke while covered in sweat, "Where is Sterling and Mike?"

     Someone from team one yelled back as most of both teams were now firing at Remans "Mike is on the ship and Sterling... is holding off the bulk of the Remans."

     Suddenly the last man of Epsilon team and a buddy of his from Delta team grabbed good phasers and new batteries and ran toward Sterling last location. As the two brave men ran into the crowd of Remans with bayonets out and ready the large group of Marines headed toward the nearest outside wall from the bio labs while shooting anything that moved.

0534
     Sterling was out of phaser ammo and was fighting using his D'K'Tagh in one hand and the Bayonet from the phaser in the other.

     The Two loner soldiers who came to help Sterling were making a nice dent in the Remans but were being pushed toward an isolated section of the Facility.

    The Large group of Marines left behind threw several grenades making a hole in the outside wall. As Remans followed them they ran into the jungle and were transported back to the Mystic.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon's Duty Post
Captain, USS Mystic
Mysty, Ship's A.I., USS Mystic

"Fun and Games"
Stardate:50402.11.

     Sharek had just finished transferring the codes for Bartender to Grailoc who stood before him, Anton had authorized him to transfer them before he left to lighten his work load. No sooner had he looked up from the desk in his ready room Mysty appeared and Grailoc jumped.

     Mysty, "The Marines are back except 3 one of which is Sterling. One is dead, another in critical care. Shadow Ops is on their way without Anton, he got stuck on the base and ordered them to leave."

     Sharek, "What complications have we had?"

     Mysty, "The base had Reman soldiers and they almost ruined everything. All goals have been completed except one data padd is with Anton. Also we have detected secret rooms and a hall that weren't in the normal plans."

     Sharek, "What is there?"

     Mysty, "Eighteen Starfleet prisoners, Twelve Shadow Ops trained and Six with Marine Training. According to what data we have retrieved they were sent here to be tested on with biological warfare."
 

     Sharek looked at Gailoc, "Dismissed, and if you change your mind about becoming an engineer, Mysty here can get you started on the proper courses. He stood up and headed for the door, "Do we have proper Transporter coordinates?"

     Mysty, "Yes, but need I remind you that Ael forbade you to go on away missions by yourself?"

     Sharek stopped and waited for Grailoc to leave, "Then I just won't get hurt. Besides it's a simple in and out mission. Beam a Romulan Uniform and a Romulan Disrupter Rifle to me."

     Both items appeared before Sharek and he changed quickly. When he was finished Mysty looked at him and whistled, "If I didn't know better I'd think you were and actual Romulan Officer."

     Sharek, "Send me straight to the hallway away from any guards."

     Mysty, "They only have one guard."

0535 Seconds later he was locked onto by the Mystic's transporters and sent to the surface. When he appeared he fired the Disrupter rifle on setting 7. With the Romulan dead and vaporized he stole the soldiers Rank insignia, hand disrupter, and knife.

     When he looked up at the holding cell doors he saw they were palm locks. "Now how should I..." As he looked at the guards hand he took it and cut at the wrist. As he walked over to the cell he put the hand to the padd. The first door opened and six dirty, tattered, and tired federation officers looked up at him.

    Prisoner 1, "No, no... not again."

    Sharek, "I'm not with the Romulan Empire I'm from the USS My... The Federation."

    Prisoner 1, "You mean were going home?"
 

    Sharek, "Eventually, I'll explain later, right now we have to get the others."

    Meanwhile back on the Mystic...

    Mysty connected herself to the comm units of all their people on the surface except Sharek. "This is Mysty, the Captain has beamed down to the surface alone. Somehow the base has shields and raised them right after he beamed down... Find him and make your way outside the Shields somehow. Mysty out."

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias

Head of Shadow Ops

Duty Post

"Search and Rescue"

Stardate:50402.11.0245

0535  Anton received the message from Mysty.  He knew that he had to get the captain out of the base unharmed or Ael would kill him.  It wouldn't be a good idea to have the ship's doctor pissed at him.  Anton had to think of what do to, and then an idea popped into his head.  The Central Computer Core room was still perfectly fine.  He could use their sensors to lock onto his coordinates.  Anton stood back up and prepared for what was ahead.

     He opened the door to the closet and dashed into the Computer Core.  He turned and locked the doors behind him.  Anton rushed to the computer core and started using all his hacking skills to find the captain.  A light flashed on the screen, but it didn't make sense.  According to the screen, Sharek was in a part of the building that didn't exist.  "What the hell?"  Anton tried to get info on the area, but "ACCESS DENIED" came up nice and big on the screen.  Anton went into overdrive.  It took him two minutes to hack the codes and unlock the needed info.  The info showed that it was a classified area were they 'help' prisoners.  "The Federation would never allow them to get away with this."

     Anton dug around to find a blank padd.  He downloaded the access codes to the padd that way he could get in.  When he was just about to leave he remember what Mysty had said about the facility's shields.  The shields couldn't be deactivated from here, but Anton did find the location of the control console.  It was on a Maintance Deck just beneath this one.  The problem was that it was located underneath the Scorpion Lab.  Xenon had probably walked right through it without realizing it.  Anton downloaded the map and ran out the Core for the hidden area. 

    After killing a few Remans, Anton reached the door and blasted out the holo-emitter that was disguising it.  The panel was almost hack proof, almost the key word there.  Anton used his rifle to blow a hole in the panel shielding and started to work on opening the door.  It would only taken a matter of seconds, then he would be able to get to the captain...

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic

Lt. JG Anthony Tobias
Heads of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

Duty Post, "So Far So Good"
Stardate: 50402.11.0400

     The access code loaded from the padd and the door opened.  Anton found a Romulan Officer holding disrupter that appeared to be trying to lead the prisoners away.  Anton aimed his phaser rifle at the Romulan's head and yelled "Drop your weapon or I'll fire!"

     Sharek looked at Anton and smiled, "What the Hell are you doing here? Your suppose to be getting out."

     Anton stopped for a moment and realized that the captain was standing in front of him.  "Sorry, sir, didn't realize it was you.  What are you doing."  Anton lowered his weapon somewhat and waited for Sharek to respond.

     Sharek started for the next cell as he said, "We discovered this room and I was bored. So I beamed down so I could rescue them and have us beamed back up."

     Anton lowered his rifle to his side. "They have shields up.  We can't beam in or out."

     Sharek placed the guards hand on the padd and opened the next cell, "Then we'll have to improvise." He looked in the cell, "We're from Starfleet. Your being rescued."

     "Sir, why are you carrying around a hand? Never mind.  I have the plans for the base and found were the shield generator is.  I will have to go down to the Maintenance level to disable it.  Also, I know a faster way to transport all these people up without having to contact the Mystic."  Anton pulled an un used iso-clip and handed it to Sharek. "Give one to each person and once I disable the shields, beam them all up."

     Sharek headed to the last cell and opened it, "We have to make sure Sterling and the last two marines get out as well." He looked inside the cell. "We're from the Federation, your being rescued."

     Anton thought for a moment. "Okay, once I disable the shields, beam them up and meet me in the Central Computer Core."  Anton showed Sharek the map on the padd, "From there we can help Sterling and the other marines. I know Ael wouldn't approve, but do you think you can make it?"

     Sharek, "Son, you just asked the stupidest question in the world. I wouldn't be where I am if I couldn't 'Make It'."

     Anton smirked, "Remember that your still the captain and aren't supposed to go on away missions. I have to remember to talk to Ael when I get back.  In any case, I'm going to go disable the shields.  Once they are, I'll radio you.  Stay here with them, I shouldn't take long."

     Sharek, "Ael doesn't know I'm here otherwise I would have had an armed guard that would slow me down."

     Anton, "Then you shouldn't have come.  I could have easily saved the captured officers.  All you had to do was send the message, we had already broke radio silence anyway."

     Sharek, "I was under the impression that you were trying to get out of the base, and besides you still have data that needs to be sent to the ship."

     "Whatever, ~slick~."  Anton opened a maintenance hatch and drop down into it.  Before running off, Anton yelled up, "I have a mission to accomplish."

     Sharek opened the Iso-clip and passed out the tags. "Whenever I get the signal press the button on the end and you will be beamed up to our ship. Just tell them this is a Code Orange situation and they will take care of you."
 
     Anton moved quickly down the maintenance tunnel. It took him only two minutes to reach the shield controls.  "There is no time to hack it."  Anton blasted the console with his rifle, destroying it and disabling the shields.  He got on his comm, "The shields are down.  Get them outta here and meet me in the Computer Core."

     All 18 captives pressed the iso-tags and were beamed up. Sharek moved the dead guard into a cell, put the hand in a pocket just in case, and shut all the doors as he headed for the Computer core. There he shut the door behind him and secured it, sitting in a chair he watched the open hatch in the floor and waited for Anton.

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Lt Commander Ael Tr'Radiak

CMO

SD 50402.12.0042

"Troubles Begin"

Ael had problems enough without what happened next. Sickbay was full. There were crew members with injuries of varying levels of severity all over.

Susan Edwards walked into sickbay. She felt like hell. Normally she wouldn’t have bothered the CMO, having an almost paranoid fear of sickbay and medicine in general, but she was shaking from a fever she couldn’t seem to get rid of.

Ael said “Lt. Edwards.” This was really rare.

“Lt. Commander.” The woman spoke raspily. “I’ve had this fever for….for…for.” it escaped her.

“Easy, Lt. “ Ael cautioned. She reached for the tricorder. Oh this was troublesome for sure.

Some time later…………

Ael was in her office, racking her brain. Susan was the third crew member to show up, since the injured marines came aboard, with a raging fever. And none of them were responding to the usual treatments.

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias Duty Post

Head of Shadow Ops

Captain/Colonel Sharek Tekon

CO, USS Mystic

Major Sterling, Marine Team Leader, USS Mystic

"Complaints and Grievances"

Stardate:50402.14.0245

     Anton was trying to make his way back from disabling the shields.  The maintenance tunnels were like a maze.  Even though there was great confusion, he made it there.  Anton popped up from the hatch to find Sharek sitting on a chair, waiting for him to come.  "Hello."

     "What took you so long? At this rate Sterling's going to have to save himself." Sharek said as he stood up.

     Anton rolled his eyes.  "Do you realize how much of a maze it is down there?  Ohh, wait, you didn't go turn the shields off, I did.  Don't act like it was hard for you to walk up a hallway."  Anton climbed up from the hatch and check to make sure he still had everything.  "Well then, what's the game plan?"

     Sharek shrugged, "All the fighting sounds like it is coming from where the Scorpion lab use to be and that is where the Marines were last sighted so lets go have some fun."

     "Fun? You're kidding me right?  I'm fatigued a bit.  I started this mission almost an hour ago.  You've been down here what, a whole fifteen minutes?"  Anton saw that all his gear was still in place.  He only had one iso-clip left though.

     "Fine, look I'll do all the fighting you just rest and be backup." Sharek started moving toward the door making sure the Romulan Disrupter was holstered along with the knife.

     Anton bounced up and down and loosened up a bit.  "No, I'll do all the fighting and you can be backup.  Do you really want me to tell Ael that you didn't listen to me and deliberately put your life in danger?  Remember, you have kids on the way."

     Sharek frowned at him, "I'd have to be in a coma for my life to actually be 'in danger'. So how about we do this, you take the ones on the left and I'll take the ones on the right."

     Anton walked up to Sharek, "How about this, stay behind me so that you have some kind of cover.  My suit can absorb their fire for a little.  That way you can still kill a few Remans today.  Deal?"  Anton smiled and knew that the Captain better take him up on this arrangement.  If Sharek listens, Anton leaves out the captain's 'heroics' in his mission report.

     Sharek started out the door as he said, "As long as you can keep up with me, I'll keep that in mind."

     Anton chuckled, "Ohh, I'll keep up with you old man."  Anton ran out the room behind Sharek.

     As they approached the fighting they heard significantly less combat sounds. When they arrived they saw Remans retreating from a very bloody, and battered Sterling. As they Arrived Sterling looked up from the pools of blood and stacks of bodies and said, "What took you so long, I gave up waiting. By the way, Ael is going to be angry you are down here Captain, but it's good to have you here anyway."

     Sharek shrugged as he helped Sterling out of the body pile, "You know me I love a good fight. You could have saved some though."

     Anton rolled his eyes, "Jesus... Well then, where to now, Captain?"

     Sterling, "I saw the two Marines who were trying to help me duck into a shielded biolab. They are probably still pinned down.

     Sharek, "We'll help them lets get you home. Sharek to Mysty beam Sterling directly to sickbay."

     Mysty, "Can't do that, when we beamed the captives up we got a feedback pulse from the base and the transporter are down."

     Sharek looked at Anton, "You get a Shuttle from the docking bay. I'll take Sterling and get the other Marines. Just please don't give me any hype on this one."

     Anton looked around and found another maintenance hatch.  He opened and said, "Fine, you have Sterling with you.  Time to play 'Whack-a-Mole with the Remans again'"  Anton smiled and dropped down into the tunnel.

     Sterling retracted the bayonet from the phaser rifle and shouldered it. As he looked back at the maintenance tunnel he said, "I feel sorry for the Remans." He put the D'K'Tagh in his left hand and grabbed the Disrupter pistol off the Captain's belt before they headed off.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon's Duty Post
Captain, USS Mystic
Major Sterling, Marine Team Alpha Leader, USS Mystic

"The Art of War"
Stardate:50402.14.2400

     As Tekon and Sterling made their way toward the sounds of phaser fire two blasts came from their right hitting Sterling in the leg and barely missing Tekon. Without a word exchanged both men fired at the blasts while running, the blast to Sterling didn't seem to slow him.

     Tekon arrived first and threw the disrupter rifle at the Reman. The Reman caught the weapon only to have the Romulan knife from Sharek's belt thrown in to his skull. As the second Reman turned to fire at Sharek he was shot in the head by a disrupter blast from Sterling.

     "Can't let anything happen to you sir, Ael would kill me." Sterling said as he cracked a smile.

     Sharek pulled his knife from the Reman's skull and picked up his disrupter rifle, "I knew you had him the whole time."

     Sterling just nodded with a 'sure you did' look on his face as they grabbed the Reman's disrupter rifles and shouldered them. "Sir, guns are to be shot, not thrown." As they continued toward the fire they began to see the backs of nearly a dozen Reman soldiers. They backed up to where they were and stopped. There Sharek motioned for Sterling to give him the D'K'Tagh. Sterling handed it over and took both disrupter rifles from the Captain.

     As Tekon slipped around the corner with a knife in each hand sterling leaned a disrupter rifle against the wall and stuck the the disrupter pistol in his belt. Taking up a Disrupter rifle in each hand he turned the corner to act as backup.

     As Tekon neared the Remans one turned and began to salute until he realized the klingon blade. Before he could speak Tekon sliced through his gut like a hot knife through butter. As other Reman turned around to see what was going on Tekon began to spin and move faster.  As Sterling watched he swore the sight was more like a blind man looking at his first sunset than watching a blood bath. Tekon danced around the Remans with precision and grace in a Ballet of Death as all the Remans were killed as if it was an art form.

     Finally Tekon stopped as the last Reman dropped. Sterling grabbed the weapons as a blood covered Tekon moved up from the pile of bodies to a wall of furniture at the lab door. Once there Sharek leaned over and said, "You can come out now... It's over."

     One of the Marines inside yelled out, "Captain is that you? We need transported up quick Tom is dying here; he's the last man from Epsilon Team. I don't have a med kit or I'd help him."

     Sterling and Tekon began moving the furniture as quick as they could. Eventually Tekon leaped the remaining furniture and ran over to the dying Marine.

     Tom was lying on the floor coughing up blood and the other Marine was looking for something that resembled a med kit. Sharek yelled to the Marine running around, "What have you done for him so far?"

     Marine, "Nothing I haven't even touched him yet. I was hoping for a medkit."

     Sharek grabbed Tom and picked him up getting blood coughed on him in the process. "If you can't find one then lets go. Our only hope is if we can get him up to the Mystic quickly, unless there is a medkit on the shuttle Anton gets."

     Marine, "Shuttle, Why don't we just beam out?"

     Sterling cut Sharek off as they all began to running, "The Mystic's transporters are down due to a feedback surge from the base."Sterling and the Marine were shooting anything that moved using disrupter rifles. Tom was still alive but he was dying quickly, it looked like he took one disrupter blast too many. Sharek now had splatters of coughed blood all over his face and coughed slightly as they ran in the direction of the docking bay.

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias Duty Post

Head of Shadow Ops

"In the Minotaur's Maze"

Stardate:50402.15.1600

     Anton dropped back into the maintenance tunnels, "Fabulous, now I get to find my way to the docking bay.  This is going to be fun."  Anton started moving down the tunnels and attempted to head in the direction of the docking bay.  The tunnels created a maze beneath the facility.  It was not going to be easy to find the docking bay at this rate.

     Anton opened a hatch to find a Reman in front of him.  Anton quickly fired his weapon and hit the Reman in the chest, killing him instantly.  Anton knew now that the Remans know he was down there and that they would eliminate him at any case.  Anton came to a control panel and popped it open.  He hooked up his padd to the panel and started to bring up any maintenance blueprints he could.  A Reman came from around a corner to surprise Anton, but he was the one that got the surprise.  Anton had heard him coming and shot him in the head as he came around the corner.  "Dammit, I'm never going to get out of here."

     The blueprints came up and Anton looked them over.  He traced the path on the map and remember it.  Just before he was going to close the program, Anton noticed an interesting option.  He accessed the option and saw the effect.  Infrared readings came up on the map.  He could now see ever Reman that lay on this level of the facility.  There were small groups of Remans directly in the path of Anton's way out.  He knew that this was going to be fun.

     Anton started towards the docking plan and prepared his rifle for battle.  Anton armed his phaser pistol in the other hand, and prepared for the Remans ahead.  Anton came onto the first couple of Remans and quickly disposed of them.  There were only two more groups before he reached the docking bay.

     This was not what Anton had expected, both groups of Remans and joined together and were ready.  Anton took cover behind a small wall and popped out long enough to get a shot or two off every few seconds.  There were 7 Reman at the start, only 3 stood now.  Anton popped out and took out two more before his rifle died.  The rifle hit the ground as Anton popped out and shot the last Reman in the head.  Anton picked up his rifle and threw it over his back, he was mere moments from the docking bay.

     A hatch in the docking bay opened and Anton climbed up to find no one around, no captain in sight.  The top of the docking bay was completely gone from Shadow Ops crashing through it to escape.  Anton only found one Romulan shuttle that wasn't damaged.  He got in the pilot's seat and started initializing the shuttle's engines.  Anton looked out and saw several figures coming down the hall towards him...

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Lt. JG Anthony Tobias Personal Post

Head of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

Dawn, Secondary Ship A.I., USS Mystic

"The Woman in the Green Dress"

Stardate:50402.15.1930

     Dawn had been preparing for Anton's arrival since talking to Ael.  She had looked at all the logs from when Sharek and Ael had gone on dates and any info she could find that would help her.  She had set up a nice surprise dinner for Anton in his quarters for when he came back.  She was going to tell him how she felt and force him to listen.

     Dawn had used the replicator and the holoemitters to turn his quarters into a beautiful view of the 21st century French Riviera.  They would have the finest food she could think of.  Dawn had put extra care into the details of the food and holo-environment.  They would be having a bottle of 45 year old Romulan Ale.

    The last thing she had to prepare was what she would wear.  She went through what she thought he would like; dominatrix, cheerleader, school girl, but none were quite right.  She sat at his computer and quickly looked through all the female clothing he had.  After a few seconds, a certain dress flashed before her and she stopped the slide-show.  It was a glorious 21st century Versace.  She loved it and knew he would to.  It was a deep jade green and was perfect.  Dawn stood up and the dress appeared on her.  She look absolutely gorgeous in it.  Dawn smiled and sat back down in the chair to wait on her love, Anton.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Major William Sterling, Marine, USS Mystic

Lt. JG Anthony Tobias
Head of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

Duty Post, "Battered and Bloody"
Stardate:50402.15.2015

     Anton saw the figures coming closer and put back on his visor to see who it was.  He saw the captain carrying a marine and Sterling being help along by the other marine.  Anton took off his visor and opened the doors to the shuttle.  Anton ran out to meet them. "Sir, I found us a shuttle."

     Sterling was finally starting to show the strain the damage was causing, "Fire up the engines, I'm taking a nap."

     Sharek, "We'll need a medkit if the shuttle has one... and a towel for some of the blood covering me."

     Anton ran back to the shuttle and found a medkit and some towels.  He put them in clear view and sat back in the pilot's seat.  Anton waited for them to get aboard and closed the door to take off.

     The marine helped Sterling into a seat since Sterling was in pain but not saying anything. Sharek laid the other marine, Tom, down and opened the medkit. As he went to work trying to help him in any way he could he thought nothing of the blood covering him... only the dying marine in front of him.

     As everyone boarded the shuttle Anton closed the doors and took off for the ship.  It would take five minutes to get back to the ship. Anton hailed the Mystic and had them prepare for their arrival.  He turned to the captain, "We'll be there soon. They will have a med team there to check us over and take the wounded.  I suppose none of that blood is yours, correct captain?"

     Sharek, "Blood? Oh yeah, the blood, No it belongs to Remans and Tom here."

     Anton saw that Sterling was already passed out from exhaustion and turned back to the controls. The shuttle arrived in the shuttle bay and the med team was already running for the shuttle.  Anton opened the doors and shut off the engines.

     Everyone exited except Sharek who was still trying to keep Tom alive. Several med techs took over for Sharek who grabbed the towels and exited the craft. No sooner had he exited a med tech ran over to him and was using a medical tricorder.

     Medtech, "You have an elevated temperature, and a few nicks and cuts. Other than that you are fine, despite the massive amount of blood on you, are you ok Sir?."

     Sharek wiped off his face, "I'm Fine" then watched them take Sterling and Tom away on a hover padd with the other marine walking slowly behind them. Two of the medical staff were still working on tom when they went out of sight. "Anton, once you do your report come to my ready room."

     Anton was pushing a medtech with a tricorder away from him. "I know I'm fine."  Anton turned to the captain, "Yes, sir.  I'll be there shortly."
 

     Sharek wiped off his hands and gave the towel to a medtech while saying, "Take your time, I need to change and do my report as well."

     Anton nodded to the captain and headed for his office to do his report.

     Sharek went back to his quarters to change.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic

Lt. Anthony Tobias
Head of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

Duty Post, "Promotional Losses"
Stardate:50402.1

     Sharek had showered, changed into a fresh uniform, and went to his ready room to do his mission report. It had been an hour since they left the Romulan Research facility, and he was ready to meet with Anton. On his desk was a small box.

     Anton came to the captain's ready room and walked in. "Sir, I finished my report and made sure it was entirely accurate."  Anton sat in the chair across from the captain. "It included everything you did. Sorry, I guessed you wanted it to be completely accurate.  What did you want to see me about?"

     Sharek picked up the box on the table, "I read your report already, besides I had to write one of my own without leaving anything out. That isn't why you are here though. When you first came aboard you complained about the removal of your old rank of major and being shifted to navy. Well the equal of Major in the navy is Lt which is what I Herby promote you too. Congratulations." Sharek handed Anton the box containing the replacement pip in it.

     Anton opened the box and switched his pips so that it showed that he was now a Lieutenant.  He placed his old pip back in the box and put it on the captain's desk. "Thank you and good.  I was wondering when you would do that.  It took long enough, didn't it."  Anton grinned at the captain, showing he was thankful.

     Sharek looked at Anton, "Well your not done yet. As you may have guessed our new friends the Chort suspect the 28th century, Daniels time period, to have been tampered with by the Temporal Borg. We don't know where in the past they made the minor changes to make the century different or even how bad the outlook is. Frankly we need lots of information. So I am giving you the opportunity to gain back your Major and be able to have a dual rank like myself. You will be dropped off in the 28^th century and will not be picked up until you have gained as much information as needed to determine what happened, where did it happen, and how can we fix it."

     Anton looked at the captain with disbelief. "Several things; first how will I signal you to pick me up, second what can I take with me gear wise, third how do you expect me to make up for the vast technology difference?"

     Sharek stood and looked at Anton, "You will have an tracer implanted in your left forearm just beneath the skin layers. When you finish your mission have it surgically removed and it will activate a signal so the Mystic can retrieve you. It will also let us know if you die, so we can stop it. If you wish, we can have a personal communication earpiece implanted, and a S.O.C.I.S. given to you for under your clothing. You can have the Romulan Shuttle we just got back with, as well as the Klingon weapon of your choice, and a Type II Mark II phaser pistol. As for the technology difference Mysty and Terminal have put together a program to update you as far as we possibly can so you have a fighting chance. The program is in 50 parts, you download a part into your memory and then do the tests linked to that file in the computer to verify it took hold before downloading the next part. When you are finished you will be ready to leave."

     Anton stood, "Good.  I will get the communication earpiece implant, it's not like I don't already have implants in my head.  Everything else sounds good and I might actually take you up on the Klingon weapon offer.  Well then, should I go get to work?"

     "Take some time off first. You may not have a lot of time to rest peacefully once you get there. Other than that you are free to go," with that Sharek walked around the table and shook Anton's hand. He was trying not to sweat but he felt like he was burning up.

     "Thank you, sir." Anton turned and walked to the door.  Before he left he turned back to the captain, "Have Ael take a look at you, you're not looking to good." Anton walked out and headed for his quarters.

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Crewman Recruit Vhorani
Head of Temporal Sciences

Crewman Recruit Tan'Ru
Engineering / Science

Duty Post: Assigned Duties"
Stardate:50402.17.2100

The office of Temporal Sciences was well stocked with various equipment and he had already submitted his report on the 28th century to the Captain.  The duties were currently to research some equipment that was brought on board.  The problem was that identification marks were unreadable since they were in an unknown language.  However, mysteries are meant to be solved. In the background he heard his associates arguing on how to achieve there goals.

"Let's go with a new approach at this people!  One thing I don't want is getting things totally confused! If you can't figure what it is, then reverse your thinking.  Tell me what it isn't!"

Vhorani went back to his work on two pieces of equipment that the Captain was very interested in. The big shuttle that was "borrowed" as well as a weapon of war.

"Tan'Ru to Vhorani.  I got some good news!  Final loading of the Omega Particle's are in and I'm about to pre-start the core. Once the core is activated we can go to normal power and get the computers on."  He continued to walk around the strange shuttle.  "That is good honey.  Perhaps you can help me with this ship."

There was a few moments of silence, "I want to make sure the safeties are up first.  Then I'll be there."

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Lt. Anthony Tobias Personal Post

Head of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

Dawn, Ship Secondary A.I., USS Mystic

"Artificial Love"

Stardate:50402.18.0730 & 50402.19.1145

     Anton was heading back to his quarters after getting promoted to Lieutenant.  He was in a rather good mood. The mission had gone as well as he hoped it would go and it seemed that there were no major problems happening.  The only thing odd was this sickness that some of the Marines were coming down with.  Anton shrugged it off as probably just some mild biological agent that had affected the crew.  The rest of the day was planned to be quiet for Anton.

     Dawn had heard news of everyone finally returning from the mission, the last ones being Anton, Sharek, Sterling, and two other Marines.  She was anxious for Anton to arrive to find his special surprise.  She was even happier when she learned of his promotion.  This dinner was going to be extra special.  She couldn't wait.

     Anton arrived at the door to his quarters and stopped for a moment, "Now, I can finally relax a little."  Anton sighed and smiled a bit then opened the door and walked in.

     "Surprise." Dawn stood in the shimmering green Versace in the middle of the room with a smile on her face, waiting for Anton's reaction.

     Anton's jaw dropped and didn't move a muscle after he had saw everything that Dawn had done. "What... what is all this?"

     Dawn walked over to Anton and kissed him on the cheek, "It's for you, cause you got promoted.  And... cause I wanted to surprise you."

     Anton looked at Dawn and walked around the room, looking at all that she had done.  "What made you decided to do all of this?"

     "Ael, because I wanted to tell you something and she said that I really have to.  I've been afraid to."  Dawn walked over to Anton and put her arms around him, resting her head on his chest.

     Anton couldn't believe all this.  This was beyond anything he figured she would ever do. "Well, what do you want to tell me?"

     Dawn looked up at him, "You know that once I became a normal Advanced A.I., I gained all these emotions and all the feeling you programmed into me we deleted.  And that now I'm an Advanced A.I., I have the same rights as you do.  In the time where this ship is from, Advanced A.I.s are considered sentient and are considered like you and Sharek in terms of actual living beings."

     Anton, "I know, it's just..."

     Dawn put her fingers over his mouth, "All the emotions you had programmed me with are gone.  Still, I know out of everything in this world I love you and that is not just some lines of code."

     Anton was speechless.  He couldn't thing of what to say to that.  He knew that she was right, that what she was feeling for him was as real to her as it was for Sharek and Ael.  Anton pulled her close to him and looked in her eyes to find an answer...

      Anton pushed her away a turned away from her, "I need time to think about this."  He didn't want to say it, but he knew that he couldn't just jump into all of it.  Taking her hand, he escorted her over to the table and seated her like any real gentleman would.  "Give, me a moment and we can talk about all this.  I would like to get out of this uniform and put on something that would fit the mood better.  Anton disappeared into his bedroom for a few moments and came back out it a fine black suit.  "Is this better?"

     Dawn smiled and nodded, "I guess that will do.  Thank you for at least playing along with all this."

     Anton, "I'm not playing along, I'm actually enjoying everything you did for me."  Anton took his seat and took her hands from across the table.  "I know that what your feeling is real, as real as any person could feel.  I know that you must really love me and that it is not just programming you have in you.  My only concern is that I will be leaving soon on a solo mission for the ship and may be gone for some time.  I can't get into anything with you cause it would be wrong for me to do that to anyone that love's me as you do.  To leave you here for months, possibly years before my return would hurt you and I won't do that to you."

     Dawn, "I know about the mission plans and that you will be gone.  I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will still love you and I won't let the sadness of not being with you affect me drastically enough to stop me from being efficient.  My love for you will push me to work harder and to push through all depression just for the simple hope that I will see you again.  I know that I won't lose you, I just hope that you can understand what I am now and everything that I can be if you give me the chance."

     Anton, "I hate to sound like I'm not entirely focusing on our conversation, but there is something that I need to tell you."

     Dawn was puzzled.  What did he need to tell her. 

     Anton, "I never programmed you ever to love me.  You had the emotions from the start to make your own decision on that.  From the start you loved me, I thought it was just an abnormality and let it go, it wasn't bothering anything.  Now I know that it was your artificial intelligence and personality that caused you to make you feel that way about me.  You loved me, I didn't program you to."

     Dawn was shocked, "Why, why didn't you tell me about this before?"

     Anton, "Because, I didn't want you to know.  Through out all of it, all the conversations we had together, all the games we played, all the time I spent with you, I was growing more and more found of you.  You were from the start your own person.  Everything you are, the way you act, the way you think, the way you look, the way you sound, that was all you.  I made you to make your own decisions on what you wanted to be.  I figured that if I could do that, that I could revolutionize Artificial Intelligence."

     Dawn, "So what your saying is that everything about me I decided form the start, that I was in charge of all the aspects of myself."

     Anton, "Yes."

     Dawn couldn't believe it.  She had thought that she was just a composite creation from the start and was completely the creation on the man sitting in front of her.  Now she knew the truth.  "Is there anything else you have failed to tell me?"

     Anton paused for a moment and took a breath.  "Yes.  Knowing what I knew, I started to grow fond of you.  I knew that nothing could ever happen cause you were just on a computer screen, but now you're all this.  What I'm trying to say is that, I do love you and have for a while.  I just don't want you to be sad when I leave for a while."

     Dawn stood up from her chair and ran over to Anton, throwing her arms around him. "Really?"

     Anton stood up and took her in his arms.  He leaned close to her, "Yes."  With that they kissed. 

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic

Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak
Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

Duty Posts, “Suspicion” and "Faith of the Fallen"
Stardate: 50402.18.2306 - 50402.21.2400

 Ael put her face in her hands. First it had been Edwards, with a fever spiking to almost unbearable levels. Then the woman had gotten positively giddy.  Then she had complained of dizziness. This had begun approximately 120 minutes ago.  And it had gotten worse. Now there were five others, all following in the path Edwards had blazed. Fevers, followed by bouts of giddiness, and then extreme dizziness. It had all the appearances of a bio-agent, of someone’s sick creation, but the tests had yet to isolate it if that’s what it was.

She ran her fingers over her temples. The headache was all due to stress, and none of the usual remedies had any affect. She was hesitant to take anymore, because of the kids.  She pulled a PADD closer to her. There had to be something here she was missing. There just had to be.

     Ael pushed a hand through her hair. She was dead tired, and there looked to be an outbreak of something on her ship. The test results weren't ready yet. She took a sip of the cold coffee on her desk, and looked up as her office door opened. "Sharek???" she cried as she jumped to her feet.

     Sharek walked in a hugged Ael, "I wish I was here on personal time but it's business, sorry." Sharek was sweating and hoping Ael wouldn't realize he had a high fever.

     Ael rested her head on his shoulder. "What's happened love?" She pulled away a little, feeling like someone had sucker punched her. "You're burning up." she whispered.

     Sharek looked down at her, "No I'm fine, I wanted to find out if you had identified the virus yet and found a cure. I need to make sure my crew is okay." Sharek started to feel very good as he finished talking.

     Ael fixed him with a critical look. "Sharek, there's something you aren't telling me."

     Sharek walked over to one of the marines and looked at his bio readings. "I just want to make sure the Marine I saved down there will be okay. As for me I just haven't slept or eaten in a while. So lets get back to business what do you know about this virus."

     Ael frowned at him. "It starts off with a high grade fever...and then is followed by feelings of euphoria." She caught the slightest hint of surprise from him, and arched a brow.

     Sharek felt like a million bucks as his voice turned playful, "So what happens next."

     Ael steered him toward a biobed. "Sit." There was absolutely no give in her voice.

     Sharek went to sit down and fell to the floor laughing "Wow, Who spun the room around?"
 

     Ael got him to his feet, frowning. "How long have you felt like this?" she demanded.

     Sharek smiled and fell backwards onto the biobed saying, "Um since I saved the Marines and had the blood coughed up onto my face. I got the fever directly afterwards. But I feel great right now, If the room would stop spinning I could go back to work."

     "You make a step toward that door and I'll break both your legs." Ael said in a cold voice he'd never heard. "DAMN you for not telling me."

     Sharek tried to pull his feet onto the biobed and rolled off laughing. "See I knew that once you found out about the solo mission I went on you'd be mad."

     "Solo...mission?" Ael repeated. "WHAT SOLO MISSION SHAREK TEKON?" she yelled

     Sharek pulled himself back up to the biobed, "whoops, you mean... you didn't... read the reports. Guess I got myself in trouble there. Ha Ha Ha Ha."

     Ael was shaking with rage as she scanned him with a tricorder. "This virus is interfering with your medication Sharek." she said in that same terrible voice,

     Sharek finally climbed onto the biobed trying not to laugh, "No, without the medication the temporal nanites will spread. Where's Zorran at?"

     "Barely breathing and in a containment room she was here when the first Marines were beamed up." Ael snarled. She wasn't truly mad at him anymore but she was terribly angry with the architect of this virus.

     Sharek smiled and felt relaxed and at peace, "Well then you are in command of the Mystic till I am ok. That would make... Major Sterling your XO. If either myself or Zorran are close to being able to return to duty then command alters to the highest two people."

     Ael straightened somewhat. Great. Now she had the entire ship to deal with in addition to this virus. "I can handle it."

     Sharek grabbed Ael's arm after missing three times, "Remember Mysty has an Emergency Command Hologram subprogram in case you need help. I want you to find out about this virus and save the rest of the crew before you save me... That's An Order. Computer Command Code Lexic 3945 Beta Kappa Iota 39274 Charlie Delta 91 authorize... Lt Commander Ael Tr'Radiak."

     Mysty's Computer voice, "Lt Commander Ael Tr’Radiak ayou re now Acting Captain and authorized to enter Shadow Operations and utilize all its facilities including the hacking computers."

     Sharek, "Use them to locate the virus' registry in the Romulan Database."

     "I will do that." she said. She would too, and would take on anyone and anything. But her biggest enemy was Time. "We've had some minor successes with nircylorin. So you're getting a dose of that." she said in a no-nonsense tone. "Just like everyone else."

     Sharek had a stoned look on his face as he closed his eyes and said, "Just make sure you help everyone else first. I am not a priority till they are safe. If something happens to me Mysty has authorization to transfer the command codes to someone else."

     "Sharek, don't presume to tell me my job." she said sharply. "I will set priorities as I see fit."

     Sharek opened his eyes and tried to focus on Ael, "Sweetie, I can feel the temporal nanites invading my organs. There is no way to stop someone from becoming a temporal Borg. My medication was only slowing things down. If I start to become a temporal Borg you MUST KILL ME!!"

     Ael felt tears run down her face. "No." she said stubbornly.

     Sharek closed his eyes, "Mysty, Upon Starfleet order 75921 I enact that if I become a threat to this ship you are fully authorized to use whatever means necessary to terminate and vaporized my remains."

    Regular Computer voice, "Command recognized and filed."

     Sharek, "Damn it she's not talking to me. But at least she is still following orders."

     Ael clenched her hands into fists. "You're cheating, Sharek."

     Sharek smiled at Ael, "I am ensuring the safety of our children should you fail to cure me in time to stop the nanites from turning me into a Borg."

     She looked at him, not bothering to hide the tears streaming down her face. "Your faith in me is astonishing."

     Sharek was still smiling, "Faith has nothing to do with it. I have seen first had how quickly these nanites work. If you don't cure me they may at the price of my individuality and all the knowledge my mind contains. I must take precautions so that I am not able to send that information to the temporal Borg. I'm sure you will fix things my love... in time."

     "I'm not giving you up." she said fiercely. She took his hand in hers and held it tight. "You are the only person in this universe I love and I will die before I let you go. Borg or no Borg."

     Sharek smiled with closed eyes, "I love you, and want you to know that no matter what happens I will always be with you in your heart." And with that passed out.

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Lt. Commander Ael Tr’Radiak

Chief Medical Officer and Acting Captain, USS Mystic

“Racing the Clock”

SD 50402.22.2204

Ael kept glancing at her chrono. Ariss Zorran had been one of the first to stumble into sickbay, complaining of a fever. She’d given her the standard treatment, and kept her for observation. Since that time there had been 7 more people, well 8 now counting Sharek.

After the fever, there were feelings of dizziness, and then extreme euphoria, followed by vivid hallucinations, some of which had been frightening, judging by the screams that had echoed in the containment rooms.

She’d isolated them into the containment rooms, enabling the environmental biofilters, but she had doubts as to their effectiveness.

She picked up the PADD that held Zorran’s latest report. She was becoming less and less responsive. She feared that a coma was imminent. She cursed softly. “Arrinye!”

She compared Sharek’s report with Zorran’s. That did nothing to improve her pissed-off mood. All she wanted was five minutes with the person who designed this virus. Just five minutes.

She was still working on the hacking of the Romulan computers. Damned eternity codes! But no damned code was standing between her and a cure. She’d crack it or die.  

 Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Terminal X, Ship's Engineering Station., USS Mystic

Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak
Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

Duty Post, "Secrets and Saviors"
Stardate:5040.26.0030

     Terminal had been getting bored so he started rooting through the computer reading up on the virus spreading through the ship. As he finished assimilating the data he started to feel the connection of a Temporal Borg being made. It took him a minute to realize he was reading the nanites that were starting to assimilate the Captain. Terminal quickly opened a Comm unit. "This is Terminal X to Doctor Tr'Radiak, its urgent you come down to engineering and speak with me."
    
     Ael reached up and tapped her commbadge. It seemed to take an awful lot of effort. "I'll be right down." and she put actions to words, and soon was in engineering.

     As Ael walked into the Chief Engineer's room Terminal brought up the life signs and biodisplay of Sharek. "I know the Captain has the virus and is being assimilated. I can communicate with the Temporal Nanites. I felt you should know where in his body they are and how much longer he has left."

     Ael stared at the screen as if she could change it by staring at it. "I'm...all ears." she muttered.

     Terminal brought up analysis information on the next screen over of the virus information so far. "As you may or may not have figured out, anyone with this virus will be dead in 17 hours or less. The virus seems to have the capability of killing someone in 20 hours. What happens between now and then I can't figure out. But the nanites in the Captain are currently ignoring the virus trying to turn him into a replacement leader, a Borg King almost. In the current state of the Captain he will be Borg in three hours and the virus will still kill him fourteen hours later. If I tell the nanites to concentrate on the virus, they can kill it before it permanently affects him, but afterwards he will start to be assimilated again."

     Ael pondered. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. "Buy him all the time you can.” she decided.

     Terminal put away the information on both displays, "I'm telling the nanites to concentrate on the virus now. In a few minutes I should be able to tell you how long you have till they finish."

     Ael clenched her hands into fists, digging the nails into her skin.

     Three minutes later Terminal spoke up, "In 16 hours the virus will be eliminated and they will have made enough nanites to assimilate him completely in one hour. You have 16 hours to find a cure for Sharek, a few hours less for some of the other victims. Either way if you don't find a cure the Captain will die in seventeen hours."

     Ael smashed a fist into the wall. "Goddammit!" she yelled.

     Terminal ejected an isolinear chip from his console, "Here use this Algorithm to crack the access code to the Romulan Database. Don't worry its completely safe, besides I'm sure shadow ops will have safeguards in place just in case."

     Ael scooped it up. "They don’t want to get on my bad side." she promised. "I will find a cure, and I will do something about those nanites. Or I'll die trying."
 

     Terminal, "Just cure the Captain before the nanites do, then give him one liter of his medication. It must be injected evenly throughout his body though. This will stun the nanites long enough to remove 90% of them. If you remove more than that they will awaken and multiply. Oh and one more thing, don't let the word get out I helped. I mean I got a reputation to uphold, so I can't have people thinking I have some good in me."

     Ael twisted her lips into a thin bitter smile. "Your secret is safe with me."

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Lt. Anthony Tobias

Head of Shadow Ops, USS Mystic

Duty Post, “The Long Road”

Anton had downloaded all the information he needed to work the computers for the mission he would go on by himself.  The ship was going to make a time rift in space that would allow him to take a small shuttle through the rift and start his mission.  The ship went to the correct destination that would allow Anton to go through the rift and board a small space station in the Beta Quadrant. 

It only took three hours for Anton to download all the information he needed.  He was allowed to take a S.O.C.I.S., a Type 2 Mark II Hand Phaser, and a D'K'tagh.  Anton had specially made this suit that way both the Hand Phaser and the D'K'tagh fastened onto each thigh.  Also, a Portable Borg Regeneration Unit, extra batteries, and the plans to make an alcove.  Anton was ready to leave.

Anton said his goodbyes to Dawn and took three hours to convince her that it was for the best of the ship.  She was saddened to see him leave, but understood why he had to go, it was a personal mission that would gain him back his marine rank.  Anton readied his gear and headed for the shuttle bay.

His chrono counted down the minutes until the ship would open the time rift.  Anton fired up the engines and exited the shuttle bay.  A few minutes passed and the ship shot out a beam of light and opened the rift.  Anton piloted through the rift.  The rift closed behind him and all that stood in front of Anton was the space station.

Just before Anton was ready to hail the space station, he heard a small beeping below the pilot's chair.  Anton looked to find a small black lock box with the key in the lock.  He opened it to find 15 year old bottle of romulan ale and four bars of gold pressed latinum.  He also found a padd with a note from the captain. 

[Begin Log]

Anton I have put together this parting gift for you. I hope it helps you get started on your mission. Feel free to sell the shuttle if needed. If you can, obtain a larger craft for us to use, you know the size of our shuttlebay.

Colonel Sharek Tekon, Captain, USS Mystic

[End Log]

Anton chuckled before erasing the padd and sticking it in his pocket.  Anton looked back towards the space station, took a breath, and hailed the space station...

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Lt. Cmdr. Ael Tr'Radiak

CMO, USS Mystic

Dawn

Ship Secondary A.I., USS Mystic

"Windings and Doo-Dads"

Duty Post

Stardate:50402.27.2345

     Ael made her way through the ship, from sickbay to Shadow Ops. Dawn would have some answers for her, if anyone did.

     Dawn was quit aware of everything that had been happening on the ship, but had been preoccupied with the departure of Anton.  She truly did love him.  Dawn had noticed that Ael was heading for Shadow Ops and decided to meet her there to offer some help.

     Ael stepped into Shadow Ops, "Dawn...I know you miss Anton, but I need your help."

     Dawn tried to smile, but couldn't. "I know, I'll be alright.  I saw what has been happening and figured I'd help you out.  It's going to be so lonely for me to be here without having Anton to hold me.  So what do you need?"

     Ael, "I need anything and everything you can find on this damned virus. I know that you can get to any information there is. And Dawn....is there a way if we used the temporal aspect of this ship...we could undo what has happened?"

     Dawn spoke up to answer the latter question first, "No, we cannot use the ship to go back and undo what has happened.  It would create a temporal paradox that would cause all times and all space to collapse into itself.  Thus, would cause existence to cease or cease for us."  Dawn smiled, "We can get the information that the Romulan's did have on the virus since we downloaded all of their computer data into the ship's memory banks."

     "Well, good." Ael scrubbed at her eyes. "Dawn, I am so damned tired. And I have to think, I have to figure this out. Now." The desperation was plain in her voice.

     Dawn turned and faced the computer wall displays and brought up millions of lines of encryption.  She was guessing that this had to be the data for it had a more complex encryption than the Scorpion data.  After a few minutes Dawn stopped and looked at Ael, "I don't know if I can do it.  Didn't Terminal give you something that would help you crack the encryption?"

     Ael pulled out the chip that Terminal had given her. "You have to, Dawn."

     Dawn giggled and took the chip, "I knew Terminal wasn't all bad, he liked Anton and all."  Dawn placed the chip into the Shadow Ops computers and went back to staring at the screen.  With the help of the chip, it only took a few moments for Dawn to break the encryption.  Dawn jumped up and down with excitement, "Yes, I got it.  It's all there Ael.  I even download it onto a padd for you."  Dawn picked up a blank padd and connected it to the computers and started downloading the info.

(Begin Log)

Virus Name: Kormire (Means Chimera in English)

Function: Biological Agent designed for Chemical warfare

Designed by: Exiled female Federation Scientist who was considered to be practicing unethical techniques in her lab. Scientist is Human and was exiled on June 8, 2341.

Born March 8, 2320, died April 8, 2400 at age 80 of a coronary rupture.

Symptoms: Start Immediately upon contracting the Virus
* 1 hour after exposure sudden high fever
* 3 hours after exposure dizziness and euphoria
* 8 hours after exposure dizziness stops and hallucinations start
* 11 hours after exposure fall into a coma
* 16 hours after exposure fever hits critical levels and stops
* 20 hours after exposure organs begin to shut down and fall into a dormant inactive state
* 21 hours after exposure organs suddenly liquefy and host dies

Transmission: Virus is Airborne for first 10 minutes after release. Afterwards it is transmitted by skin contact or fluid transfer for next 10 hours. After that time index transfer through fluids is the only way to transmit.

Elapse Time till death: 21 hours

 Time till all effects can no longer be reversed: 19.95 hours

If given cure after 19.95 hours but before 20.95 hours
All but Coma like state is reversed

(End Log)

     Dawn disconnected the padd and handed it to Ael, "There you go." Dawn smiled and gave Ael a kiss on the cheek.

     Ael threw her arms around Dawn. "Thank you." She held the PADD to her chest. It was like cool water in the desert. With this knowledge, she had a chance to save Sharek.

     Dawn was surprised by Ael's reaction, but shook it off. "I hope that will help.  We might have to find the woman that created it though.  Since you're in command now, that shouldn't be a problem."  Dawn smiled. "Well, you best get to the captain and try to save him."

     Ael said "If I have to, I'll find her, and she'll wish she is dead, long before I let her die." This was said in a low, cold tone. Cold as the grave. "If you need me, you know where I am." said Ael, as she headed back to sickbay.

     As Ael was rushing out Dawn spoke up, "After we fix everything on the ship, maybe me and you can have coffee or something sometime.  I think it would be nice?"  Dawn waited to see if she got any kind of response before disappearing.

     Ael stopped in the doorway, and smiled at Dawn over her shoulder. "Sure thing, Dawn. We can make the boys paranoid."

     Dawn smiled and jumped up and down, "YES!!!"  Dawn disappeared and Ael went back to sickbay to try and cure the virus.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Mysty, Ship's A.I., USS Mystic
Major Sterling, Marine Team Leader, USS Mystic

Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak
Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

Duty Post, “Back in Action" and "Between a Rock and a Pillow?"
Stardate:50402.28.2400 - 50403.22.2330

     Ael came back into the sickbay. Ens. Richards walked up. "Ma'am, you need to speak with Maj. Sterling. He keeps wanting to leave." "I'll handle him." Ael said shortly. She walked into Sterling's room. "Major..."by way of greeting.
    
     Sterling was sitting on the edge of the biobed and smiled and stood up, "Thank god someone who can listen to reason. No one will tell me what has been going on since we all came back, they won't let me leave, and except for a mild headache I fell great."

     Ael gave him a skeptical look, and handed him a PADD with his medical charts on it. "This is why you are here." she reminded him. She crossed her arms over her chest. "You're one of the lucky ones."

     Sterling looked at the padd, and it read: 32 stab wounds, 41 gashes, 5 deep Reman bite marks penetrating the flesh, multiple cuts and scraps, 19 disrupter burns of varying size, 3 concussions, almost fell into coma from going to sleep.

     At this point Mysty popped in, "Yeah your still healthy compared to some of the crew!"

     Sterling looked at both Ael and Mysty who appeared behind her, "Look the wounds were healed for the most part, I was given meds for the concussion, I have no illnesses, and I'm wired. Now someone get me updated on our situation and so I can ask the Captain how I can help."

     Ael stiffened slightly. "Well, that's part of the problem. At this moment, I am the commanding officer. Sharek has been exposed to a bioagent." she said, her voice cool and somehow composed.

     Sterling looked confused, "If the Captain has a virus then Zorran should have assumed command with Lt Tobias backing her up."

     Mysty, "She has the bioagent too and Anton is in the 28th century on assignment."

     Sterling shrugged, "Guess that means I'm acting XO then. So get me to a computer terminal and bring up what we know about this bioagent."

     Ael thought for a moment. "You can use the one in my office." she said. She was now having trials conducted with various medicines and the agent to see reactions.

     Sterling followed Ael to her office with Mysty appearing there long before they would get there.

     Ael tapped in her access codes. "Alright Sterling. I'm not too proud to say I need help. This is almost too much."

     Sterling started reading the information and let it show that he could speed read as it took him a quarter the time it should have to read everything. Seconds later he brought up a picture of the scientist who invented the virus. "Why don't we just make her develop the antidote."

     Mysty, "She is currently two days away at highest speed."

     Sterling, "Actually the time engines have just enough power in them for a brief time jump, we can just go back to November 1, 2341 when she was a researcher at the facility. We can put the infected on a remote area of an isolated planet in this time period before we leave. That way when when the engines rechargewe can come back seconds after we left with the antidote and give it too the sick."

     Ael considered it. It was truly the only option. "Then let's do it, Sterling. She'll make the antidote, or she'll die. It's up to her."

     Mysty, "According to current data she won't die for 58 years, six months, and seven days from then on March 8th, 2400 of a coronary rupture. Besides we will have to give her a sample of the virus before she ever created it and somehow convince her to work without killing her and changing history."

     "I will convince her." Ael said in a voice that could have been ice. "And I don't care what I have to do."

     Sterling tapped a button on the console activating the comm system, "Sterling to the bridge I am sending you coordinates of a planet 3 light years away. Proceed there immediately at maximum speed."

     Mysty, "Now we must prep containment units and a team to monitor those units so all the infected can be contained and transported to the planet's surface without incident. Transporters are almost fixed so they will be operational when we arrive."

     Sterling looked at Ael, "With your permission Ma'am I'll prepare the bridge to make the temporal jump and proceed back to the facility the moment we reach the proper time coordinates. I'm sure you and Mysty can handle the patients."

     Ael said "Go ahead, Sterling. Mysty, let's start."

     Sterling, "The Chance that we sent ourselves the cure and instructions on how to make it and send it back to ourselves  once we actually make it are 67.345%. On the other hand the remaining percent is the chance this is a Trap set up by the Temporal Borg. It is your call whether we risk it and travel to the beacons location."

     Ael closed her eyes again, so she could focus. This had been a habit of hers since childhood. How long she stood there, and thought, she could not say. But when she opened them, she looked at Sterling, and said. "We are taking the chance that it was us. Set a course for the beacon."

     The Mystic came to life as an uplink with the Beacon was made and the Temporal coordinates locked in. The Temporal engine engaged moments after they entered slipstream. Ten minutes later they were back in Romulan space near the Romulan Research Facility they attacked.  Sterling, "We're back at the Research Facility only the year is April 8th, 2345. We have come back to far before we ever attacked the facility"

     Mysty, "The Beacon has be locked onto and transported inside. Once the engineers open it the contents can be transferred. Where would you like to view everything Acting Captain Tr'Radiak"

     Ael wished Mysty would not call her that, but she bit her lip and didn't say anything. "Set up one of the biocontainment rooms near the transporters. Just in case this is a trick. After the contents are beamed there, beam me and a medikit there. Mysty. Sterling.....if this goes south....carry out the original plan."

     Mysty, "Yes, Captain."

     Sterling, "Maybe I should go down there with you?"

     Ael shook her head. "It is a needless risk. If something happens to me, you are the only hope this ship and crew has left."

     Mysty, "You stay here Sterling I'll keep an eye on her."
 

     Ael started to argue with Mysty. And then she just held up her hands. "Fine." It was a slim chance that something would be present that could harm Mysty anyways.

     A shimmering light engulfed Ael as she was beamed to a containment room, inside Mysty was already standing. On the table was a suitcase sized biocontainment case and a Padd.  Mysty, "As far as sensors can tell it is safe to open the case."

     Ael eyed the padd on the case. Perhaps her normal code would work....She tapped in 22-7-9-36-5-589 and like magic, the case popped open. Nestled inside were hyposprays. She lifted one out with a reverence usually reserved for religious objects.

     Mysty picked up the padd and read, "According to this there is enough for all infected crewmembers plus one extra sample to assimilate into the replicator system so we have it on file. Instructions on where we have to go and what we have to do to get this done are also on the padd. We will need keep the infected isolated for 24 hours after they receive the cure."

     "Make the arrangements Mysty." Ael said in a slightly strange tone.

     Mysty, "My other holograms are notifying the groups at the transporter padds and transporting the infected back to the meddeck. I should probably be the one to administer the cure to the infected since it can't infect me. We don't need any new cases popping up. I can have the individual hypos transported into the proper isolation rooms."

     "Do that, please Mysty." said Ael in that same odd tone, and her hands were gripping the edge of the table. She just had to stay awake a little longer...25 hours..

     As Mysty moved next to Ael a Hypospray was beamed into her hand and Mysty pressed it against Ael's neck. As Ael fell Mysty caught her and laid her on the biobed in the room. Mysty, "Sleep, I'll wake you when we need you."

     Ael fought off the medication enough to mutter something about Mysty getting too big for her britches, but it was slurred, and she sank into sleep, though she fought it.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon's Duty Post
Captain, USS Mystic
Major Sterling, Marine Team Alpha Leader, USS Mystic

"A deal with the devil"
Stardate:50404.08.1230

It was April 8th, 2345 and Sterling had just finished preparing to infiltrate the Romulan Research Facility long before they ever would attack it. He had borrowed a S.O.C.I.S., a portable cloaking device, a normal phaser rifle, and a small case which contained a small vialed sample of the bio agent that had infected the Mystic crew. Sterling was being transported down during a bad storm that was going to knock the bases power out. From there he would have to figure out which room was the Scientists responsible for eventually making the damn virus.

Sterling walked over to the transporter padd ready as he'd ever be, "Into the gaping jaws of death."

As the transporter engulfed him he prepared to switch on the cloaking device. When he materialized a soft green glow was present showing that the backup generators had kicked in. The padd said to keep looking at doors till he heard a crash from behind one. He ran for about two minutes dodging Romulans this way and that. Finally as he stopped in front of a door he heard a loud crash and waited for the nearby romulans to walk away. When the coast was clear he slipped into the room and saw a person with their back to him. as the woman turned he watched her long fiery red hair swing as the human face looked at the door. Her voluptuous body almost made one forget that she was exiled from the federation for experimenting on humanoids from different races of federation members.

Sterling pressed the cloaking button and disengaged it, "Do anything that alerts the guards that I'm here or something is wrong and you are vapor from one pull of the trigger."

Scientist, "Actually, I was going to ask what a handsome man like you was doing working for the romulans. I figured they didn't trust me yet. Look my name is Professor Victoria Karvonia and you are?"

"My name isn't important but this is," Sterling opened the case and handed her the vial, "It is a bioagent you will create in the near future. One of my teams let it loose while attacking the facility in the future and it infected my crew. We need you to make and antidote, enough of it as specified by the number marker on the vial. Each dose must be enough to cure one person and packed in a plain case with hyposprays connected to all the doses except one."

Karvonia, "While this all seems intriguing and you seem so sure of these events which haven't happened and my ability to make the cure I must say I don't work well under pressure. But since this virus would keep the romulans off my back and my research continuing, I accept."

:::: Three Hours Later ::::

Karvonia, "Well I have analyzed the virus and I must say it is beautiful. I am so proud of myself. As for the cure you want and the terms by which you want it, well it would take nearly fifty five years to complete everything. I probably didn't have a cure then because it would take decades to create the perfect mixture that would produce a cure. Assuming I worked on it when not forced to produce something new for the Romulans"

Sterling, "Fine, I will be back to see you in fifty five years. But first, " Sterling touched a hypospray to her neck, "I just injected you with nanites, if you try to not fulfill your end of the deal and not make the antidote or not make enough then they will cause you to have a heart attack."

Karvonia, "Well then I better get started.

As Karvonia turned her back to Sterling he pressed his personal comm implant by touching the skin behind his ear, "One to beam up." Sterling was engulfed by the transporter and found himself back on the padd. He immediately set off to change back into a normal uniform.

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon

Captain, USS Mystic

Mysty, Ship's A.I., USS Mystic

Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak

Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

Duty Post,"Static Moments"

Stardate:50402.20.2400

     Ael opened her eyes, suddenly certain something was dead wrong. What was it? She sat up with a gasp. No! Sharek...She tried to untangle herself from the sheet but it wrapped around her ankles and she fell back.

     Mysty popped in the room, "Good your awake. You need to come to recovery room one. We had a problem with a patient that we though you needed to know about."

     "You're in trouble Mysty" promised Ael as she had herself beamed straight to the room.

     Ael couldn't hear much beside the voice screaming in her head. She barely felt the fingernails digging into her palms.

     Mysty, "We... I did everything within my power to save Sharek... You should just look for yourself... pull back the sheet."

     Ael reached out, her hand steady only because  it was taking all of her concentration and gave the sheet a yank.

     Sharek looked up at her and smiled, then in a raspy voice said, "What you thought I could die that easily."

     Ael stared at him for a moment, barely breathing. And then she reached for him, still not able to speak.

     Mysty, "It was his idea to pretend he was dead... Honest."

     Ael still couldn't speak. She just held him.

     Sharek held Ael back, "Your not getting rid of me that easily. I refuse to let my children grow up without a father."

     "I would have hated what I would have become without you." Ael murmured.

     Sharek, "Don't worry I'm better now. Although Mysty won't allow me to leave this damn room. She says I'm going to stay my normal recovery time whether I like it or not."

     Ael said "I find myself agreeing with her. But I’m just going to stay here with you until I am sure that you aren't leaving ever."

     "Down to the old faithful." Ael mused. "I suppose its recruiting time."

     Sharek held Ael's hand and looked at her, "At least I know you'll never leave me."

     She smiled. "That's right. You're stuck with me."

     Sharek drew Ael close to him and kissed her deeply. As they embraced Mysty disappeared.

     Ael touched his face softly. "Its going to be ok...finally."

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Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Major Sterling, Marine Team Leader, USS Mystic

Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak
Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

Duty Post, "Loose Ends"
Stardate:50404.30.1200

     Sterling had just arrived at Ael's Office in sickbay and knocked on the door frame, "Ma'am I thought you would like to know the Mystic is about to jump to the retrieval date. We will be able to beam down and get the antidote from Dr. Karvonia"

     Ael stood up, and reached into her desk drawer. She drew out  a slim black-handled dagger and slid it into her boot. "Let's go hunting, Sterling."

     Sterling handed Ael a small round communicator sized device. "Here take this, it is keyed to the nanites in Karvonia's bloodstream. When we are ready to leave press it and she'll have a massive coronary rupture. Don't use it before we get the Antidote vials though."

     Ael slipped the device inside her pocket. "I will try to remember that." she said with an evil grin.

     They made their way to the nearest transporter room where two phaser rifles were waiting for them. Sterling handed the normal rifle to Ael and walked onto the padd. "The date is now April 8th 2400 and Karvonia just turned 80. She should be just a supervisor for the lab she is at so we will need to stun everyone in the room except her. Any questions?"

     "Just one. You said I can't kill her at first. Can she...fall down a little?"
 

     Sterling, "Only if it looks like she is going to call for guards."

     "We'll see." Ael shouldered the rifle.

     Sterling, "Get the rifle ready in your hands we are being transported directly into the lab during a lightning storm that will be knocking out the bases main power in three seconds. God I love the way Romulans overlook what storms can do to a power grid."

     Ael got the rifle ready. "Let's rock and roll."

     They transported down back to back, in front of Ael were three scientists while Sterling faced Karvonia, a scientist, and two guards. Sterling fired instinctively stunning the scientists then raising the power level and killing the two guards.

     Ael smiled a smile that no one had ever seen before, as she stunned the scientists. "Scum.." she said.

     Sterling looked around and saw a crate open that displayed the vials of antidote. Karvonia who was sitting in a chair spoke, "I promised that cure to the Romulans a long time ago, two days after I last saw you. It is the only reason this program is still here. You haven't aged a day, and me... I have regretted a lifetime of work handed to the Romulans with complete disregard for what they wanted it for."

     "Work..." hissed Ael. "You call this...work?"

     Karvonia coughed and sounded like she had a lung infection, "This WORK was my life... If Starfleet had allowed me to work in peace it could have been there's... I only wanted to be close to what I love to study and create..."

     "Creative!!! You call this creative...you really are twisted." "This is DESTRUCTION!"

     Karvonia, "Call it what you want... Once you take that case I have nothing left to live for so you may as well kill me now."
 
     "Give you what you want? I don't think so.." Ael's grip on the rifle didn't waver, but she looked perfectly capable of tossing it aside and going in swinging.

     Sterling checked the case while the two women yelled at each other then closed it and turned to Karvonia. "You requested the extra Reman troops and additional security measures didn't you? You even told them to expect an attack, arranged for the virus to get out, and kept everything off record so we wouldn't know coming into the event. It was all you wasn't it?"

     Karvonia, "Yes on all accounts. I requested all of it once I told them I was going to make the cure. I used a quantum resonance scan to determine the date the virus came from and made sure everything was ready. I'm only sorry I failed, seems I did all my thinking linear and missed the fact that if it killed you then you would have never given me the virus in the first place."

     Ael glared. "Do you have what we came for Sterling?"

     Sterling tagged the case and watched it transport to the Mystic, "We do now."

     "Excellent." Ael smiled a hard, angry smile. She pulled out the device. "What do you suppose this is?"

     Karvonia, "Don't care, Now either kill me or I'm calling the guards." As Karvonia finished she reached out for the Romulan communicator on her shirt.

     Ael changed her grip on the rifle and swung it like a club. It smashed into Karvonia's arm with all the anger she could find. "Don't bloody tell me what to do."

     Sterling, "We have to go, they will have power restored in ten seconds."

     "Rush rush rush.." mutter Ael as she stared into the scientist's angry eyes and pressed the button.

     Karvonia grabbed at her chest as the nanites throughout her system triggered a heart attack. Sterling and Ael transported up and stood on the padd of the Mystic. Sterling, "You enjoyed that a little too much."

     "Well...I suppose so...You've seen me in a way no one else has." she remarked.

     Sterling took the rifle and the nanite trigger from her as he spoke, "You and the Captain both... you and the Captain both."

     "I…don't think I want to know." Ael sighed.

     Sterling started to walk out of the transporter room, "Someday he'll tell you... someday he'll tell all of it too you..."

     After Sterling was gone Sharek hobbled in using a crutch due to his leg being less efficent after the temporal nanite removal while it healed, "We need to talk."

     Ael walked over to him and slipped her arm around him. "Ok…what about"

     Sharek looked her in the eyes and glared a look of death, "You have the nerve to want to lecture me about going on an away mission... your pregnant, you should have never even considered leaving the ship."

     "Some things I have to handle myself, pregnant or not." Ael said coldly.  

     "Tell you what, if you can go on away missions then so can I." Sharek said letting his anger subside.

     "You went on your little jaunt first." Ael reminded him. "I promised myself that she would die for what she tried to do to you."

     Sharek smiled as they left the transporter room, "Then we'll call it even this time."

     Ael smiled up at him. "This time, yes."

=/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\= =/\=

Captain / Colonel Sharek Tekon
Captain, USS Mystic
Mysty, Ship's A.I., USS Mystic

Lt. Commander Ael Tr'Radiak
Chief Medical Officer, USS Mystic

Duty Post,"Endings and Beginnings"
Stardate:50405.01.0530

     Ael walked into the ready room, and opened her mouth to speak, then paused, taking in the scene before her. Sharek was asleep, head pillowed on scattered padds.

     Mysty appeared next to Ael and spoke, "He fell asleep reading update reports after convincing nearly 67 crewmembers not to want to leave when we settle the 18 original crewmembers that filed and still plan on leaving us."

     "Silly man." Ael murmured, reaching out and brushing her hand across his face. "So they are leaving?"

     Mysty, "He was unable to convince the 18 crewmembers who filed their wish to settle down during our virus issue we finished recently."

     "Who were they, Mysty?" asked Ael, as she wondered if she could move the PADDs without waking him.

     At this point Sharek sat up and started speaking in a half dazed voice, "Lt. JG Jessica Renee Daniels,  Crewman Assistant Carla Brant, Crewman Assistant Aideen Brant, Crewman Assistant Joelle Paullus, Crewman Assistant Linda Brant, Crewman Assistant Grailoc, Private Officer 3rd class Vhorani 523, and Private Officer 3rd class Tan'Ru 487..."

     Mysty cut him off, "You can read the rest of the names if you want it is basically most of the crew recruited since wolf 359."

     Ael walked around the desk and wrapped her arms around him. "There will be other crew Sharek."

     Sharek, "We managed to keep the two Romulans and the other Klingon we recently picked up, as well as the Vulcan that came with Carla Brant. They were the hardest to convince that actually agreed to stay. Otherwise everyone we recently acquired would have been a complete failure."

     "People change, Sharek." she reminded him. "And its not as if they were looking for the life we offer."

     Sharek didn't speak as Mysty walked near them and started talking, "Sharek, when I first came online during construction of the Mystic I couldn't stand how unorganized this ship was. You looked at me when I first came to you about it and said, 'Patience is a Virtue'. The very first words I spoke to you when you were younger."

     "Listen to Mysty, if you won't listen to me." said Ael as she stepped away and got a cup of coffee from the replicator. Catching the look he sent her way, she said "It's decaff." She wasn't very happy about it either.

     Sharek, "I had the helm lock in the coordinates to a world we managed to locate thanks to comparing the Chort ship's logs from 65 million years ago with our logs and the logs from Daniels time. It seems there was a complete system with one class M planet that Startfleet lost in its early days of exploration. Some sort of spatial phenomenon made it impossible to go within 1000 light years of the world. It is located on the outer rim of the galaxy. Thanks to the Chort vessel though we can get there. It seems their engines can manuver thru the disturbance, so we will enter slipsteam with the chort vessel flying just ahead of us. Its risky but once in we should be able to redo the procedure to get out."

     "It can't ever be easy for us, can it?" mused Ael as she took a sip of her coffee.

     Mysty, "It's our only way to make sure they live out their lives without being found by anyone but us. Besides we figure if they have children then the world would need to be isolated longer."

     Sharek, "Mysty, when will we be able to launch the antidote package?"

     Mysty, "It is being launched as we speak. Then we will begin our trip to drop off our former crew. You know since the system and world were never named we could name them."

     Ael murmured "Children." and stared out at the viewport. Children changed everything.

     Mysty, "How about the Liberi system. Coming from the Latin root word for Children."

     Ael raised a brow. "Well...I like it."

     Sharek, "The planet were going to is the 5th planet in the system so it would be Liberi 5"

     "It seems to be settled then." Ael sat down on the edge of Sharek's desk.

     Mysty, "It will take us another week to get there but we need the temporal engines to recharge anyway."

     Sharek looked at Ael, "Gee you'll be nearly three months along once we get there. Maybe we should think about a wedding soon."

     "Maybe we should. While I can still wear the dress." she laughed.

     Mysty, "Its settled then, we will drop off the crewmembers, some prefabricated shelters, and basic supplies to get them started. Then prepare for the wedding. That means that our lesson on Patience is over and a new chapter is about to begin."

     Ael laughed. "I think the patience lessons are just getting started."

     Sharek, "At least we finished dealing with one crisis before starting into anything new."

     Ael smiled. "You seem to have forgotten that ready rooms are not for sleeping."

     Sharek, "Your right, that’s why I had them make the Captain's chair recline backwards for."

     She swatted him "You are getting to be too smart for your own good!"

     Sharek, "Obviously not smart enough otherwise we wouldn't be losing any crewmembers"

     Ael sighed. "Sharek. You cant make them stay. And if they aren’t going to be happy we don’t want them here"

     Sharek, "Your right, now if you don't mind I got some sle... work to do."

     Ael shook her head. "You had it right the first time. Are you going to make this difficult?"

     Sharek, "Fine lets both go to sleep."

     "I don't need any sleep." Ael protested.

     Sharek, "Fine lets just both go to bed and see what comes next."

     Ael giggled and wrapped her arms around him. "I have this feeling, eventually you're going to fall asleep....eventually."